Home / Crime and Justice / Silicon Valley Engineers Accused of Stealing Google Trade Secrets for Iran
Silicon Valley Engineers Accused of Stealing Google Trade Secrets for Iran
20 Feb
Summary
- Three Iranian nationals charged with trade secret theft from US tech firms.
- Allegedly stole sensitive data, including Google processor secrets, for Iran.
- Arrested in San Jose, California, and faced federal charges.
Three Iranian nationals living in San Jose, California, have been indicted by a US federal grand jury for allegedly stealing trade secrets from American technology firms. The charges include conspiracy, theft, and attempted theft of trade secrets, as well as obstruction of official proceedings.
The accused, identified as Samaneh Ghandali, Soroor Ghandali, and Mohammadjavad Khosravi, are alleged to have used their access as engineers at companies like Google to obtain sensitive data. This data reportedly included information about mobile computer processors and secrets related to Google's Pixel smartphone processors.
Prosecutors contend that the trio transferred this stolen information to Iran. Google's internal security measures flagged Samaneh Ghandali's suspicious activity, resulting in her access being revoked in August 2023. The defendants allegedly attempted to cover their tracks by destroying exfiltrated files and electronic records.
Further complicating the case, the Justice Department stated that Samaneh Ghandali and Khosravi traveled to Iran in December 2023. During this period, a device linked to Ghandali reportedly accessed the sensitive documents. The FBI described the alleged actions as a calculated betrayal of trust.
