Engineers Stole Google Trade Secrets
Analysis based on 10 articles · First reported Feb 20, 2026 · Last updated Feb 20, 2026
This event highlights the ongoing risk of intellectual property theft for technology companies, potentially leading to increased security spending and stricter employee monitoring. For Alphabet Inc., the incident could slightly impact investor confidence regarding its ability to protect sensitive data, though the company's swift action to alert law enforcement mitigates some of the negative sentiment.
Three Silicon Valley engineers, Samaneh Ghandali, Soroor Ghandali, and Mohammadjavad Khosravi, all Iranian nationals, have been charged by the United States — United States Department of Justice with stealing trade secrets from technology companies, including Alphabet Inc., and transferring the information to Iran. Samaneh and Soroor Ghandali previously worked at Alphabet Inc., while Mohammadjavad Khosravi was employed at another tech firm. Prosecutors allege they used their positions to access sensitive data, including information related to processor security and cryptography, which they then copied to personal devices and third-party platforms. Alphabet Inc. detected Samaneh Ghandali's unusual activity in August 2023 and revoked her access. The defendants are also accused of attempting to conceal their actions by destroying files, using manual methods like photographing computer screens, and submitting false affidavits. Samaneh Ghandali and Mohammadjavad Khosravi allegedly accessed the stolen information from Iran in December 2023. The United States — Federal Bureau of Investigation led the investigation.
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