전 Google 엔지니어 3명, 이란에 영업비밀 이전 혐의로 기소

Source: The Hacker News

Ravie Lakshmanan
2026년 2월 20일 – 내부 위협 / 기업 스파이

두 명의 전 Google 엔지니어와 그들의 남편 중 한 명이 기소 되었으며, 검색 거인 및 기타 기술 기업의 영업 비밀을 탈취해 이란을 포함한 무단 지역으로 정보를 이전한 혐의를 받고 있습니다.

• Samaneh Ghandali, 41
• Mohammadjavad Khosravi (aka Mohammad Khosravi), 40 – Samaneh의 남편
• Soroor Ghandali, 32 – Samaneh의 여동생

세 사람 모두 샌호세에 거주하는 이란 국적자이며, 목요일에 체포되어 캘리포니아 연방 지방법원에서 초기 출석을 했습니다.

Allegations

According to the U.S. Department of Justice (DoJ):

• The Ghandali sisters previously worked at Google before moving to a second technology company (referred to as Company 3).
• Khosravi was employed at a different firm (Company 2).
• All three held positions related to mobile computer processors.

“As part of the alleged scheme to commit trade‑secret theft, the defendants used their employment to obtain access to confidential and sensitive information,” the DoJ said in a press release.
— Justice Department press release

• The defendants allegedly exfiltrated confidential documents—including trade secrets related to processor security, cryptography, and other technologies—from Google and other companies to unauthorized third‑party and personal locations, to each other’s work devices, and to Iran.
• Samaneh transferred hundreds of files to a third‑party communications platform, using channels named after each defendant’s first name.
• Soroor also exfiltrated numerous Google‑related files to the same channels while employed at Company 3.
• The stolen files were later copied to personal devices, a work device belonging to Khosravi, and a work device issued to Soroor by Company 3.

The defendants then attempted to conceal their actions by:

1. Submitting false, signed affidavits.
2. Destroying the exfiltrated files from electronic devices.
3. Manually photographing screens containing the documents instead of transferring them via the messaging app.

“After Google’s internal security systems detected Samaneh Ghandali’s activity and Google revoked her access to company resources in August 2023, Samaneh Ghandali allegedly executed a signed affidavit claiming she had not shared Google’s confidential information with anyone outside the company,” the DoJ added.

Additional alleged conduct:

• Samaneh and Khosravi searched online for methods to delete communications and data, including queries about how long a cellular service provider retains “messages to print out for court.”
• They continued accessing Google trade secrets stored on personal devices, manually photographing hundreds of computer screens of both Google’s and Company 2’s sensitive information for an unspecified period lasting months.

• On the night before traveling to Iran in December 2023, Samaneh allegedly captured ≈ 24 photographs of Khosravi’s work computer screen that contained Company 2 trade‑secret information. These images were later accessed from a personal device associated with Samaneh while she was in Iran.

잠재적 처벌

유죄 판결이 내려질 경우, 각 피고인은 다음과 같은 처벌을 받게 됩니다:

이 사건은 또 다른 전 구글 엔지니어인 Linwei Ding이 미국에서 **유죄 판결**을 받은 지 한 달도 채 되지 않아 발생했습니다.

for stealing thousands of the company's confidential documents to build a startup in China.

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