For about two years, Xiaolang Zhang was privy to information to which many in the tech world can only dream of having access: the inner workings of Apple’s secretive autonomous car research.
Zhang, who started working at Apple in December 2015, was accused of downloading files that included engineering schematics and technical reports before leaving to work for Xiaopeng Motors, a Guangzhou-based company also known as XMotors, documents said.
A statement Wednesday from XMotors said there was no indication that Zhang communicated sensitive information from Apple, the Reuters news agency reported. XMotors added it was informed of the case late last month and was working with local authorities on the probe.
As a hardware engineer on Apple’s autonomous vehicle development team, Zhang’s position granted him “broad access to secure and confidential internal databases containing trade secrets and intellectual property,” according to the complaint.
Aside from making general comments about its interest in developing self-driving technology, Apple hasn’t openly discussed its research, leaving many to wonder what exactly the company is working on. Information is even kept from a majority of the company’s employees. About 5,000 employees out of more than 135,000 are “disclosed” on the project, meaning they are working on the project or know details about it, the complaint said. Fewer people, about 2,700 “core employees,” have access to the project’s databases.
According to the complaint, information about the project “is a closely guarded secret that has never been publicly revealed.”
“Apple takes confidentiality and the protection of our intellectual property very seriously,” company spokesman Tom Neumayr told Bloomberg in an email. “We’re working with authorities on this matter and will do everything possible to make sure this individual and any other individuals involved are held accountable for their actions.”
Zhang appeared in court Monday and was remanded to custody, according to court documents. A plea has not yet been filed. Tamara Crepet, a federal public defender provisionally appointed to represent Zhang, could not be reached for comment.
The complaint states Apple first became suspicious of Zhang in late April. Zhang had just returned to the company after taking paternity leave when he informed his supervisor on April 30 that he would be resigning, according to the complaint. He said he wanted to move back to China, citing his mother’s poor health as the reason, but later disclosed he intended to work for XMotors, the FBI complaint said. Shortly before this meeting and while on leave, authorities say Zhang had taken a trip to China with his family.
An internal investigation revealed that in the days before Zhang’s resignation, his Apple network activity “increased exponentially,” the complaint said. Authorities allege Zhang had downloaded “copious pages of information” from various confidential databases. Records and closed-circuit TV footage also showed Zhang entering the autonomous car software and hardware labs on April 28, documents state. He was seen leaving less than an hour later carrying a computer keyboard, some cables and a large box.
Armed with that evidence, Apple called Zhang in for a second interview on May 2.
He initially denied going to Apple’s labs to take anything. But Zhang later admitted taking two circuit boards and a server, according to documents. He also admitted to using AirDrop, a file transferring system for Apple devices, to upload company data to his wife’s personal laptop, the complaint said. Zhang explained he had taken the hardware because he thought it would be useful to him on another project. As for the files, he said he had wanted to study the data on his own time. Additionally, Zhang revealed he had been working to secure a job with XMotors while still employed by Apple.
After examining his wife’s laptop, Apple’s digital forensic investigations team discovered that more than half the data on the computer was “highly-problematic,” the complaint said. A complete evaluation of the files is ongoing.
Effective May 5, Zhang was “voluntarily terminated,” and according to the complaint, said he is employed by XMotors at its Mountain View, Calif., office. He also told Apple investigators he plans to move his family to Guangzhou, China, “in the near future,” the complaint said.
On July 7, authorities learned Zhang had bought “a last-minute round-trip airline ticket” for himself to Beijing, with the final destination of Hangzhou, China. The flight was scheduled to depart that same day. At the airport, Zhang was intercepted by federal agents and “arrested without incident.”
Zhang is scheduled to be arraigned July 27, according to court documents. If found guilty, he could face 10 years in prison along with a $250,000 fine.
Brian Murphy contributed to this report.
