Silicon Valley Prosecutor Cracks Down on Foreign Corporate Espionage Amid Rising Tech Security Threats

US federal prosecutors in Silicon Valley are intensifying action against foreign corporate espionage, focusing on trade-secret theft and national security risks linked to rival nations including China and Iran.

San Francisco | May 14, 2026 |

Silicon Valley’s top federal prosecutor has announced an aggressive crackdown on foreign corporate espionage, warning that the theft of American technology and trade secrets poses a serious national security threat to the United States. The statement was made by Craig Missakian, the US Attorney for the Northern District of California, during a public event in San Francisco.

Missakian stated that investigations involving trade-secret theft and economic espionage connected to foreign adversaries would remain a top priority for federal authorities. He specifically referred to countries such as China and Iran, saying attempts to steal advanced American technologies are becoming increasingly sophisticated.

The prosecutor highlighted Silicon Valley’s critical role in global technological innovation, especially in sectors linked to artificial intelligence, semiconductors, defence technology and advanced computing. According to officials, rival nations are attempting to narrow the technological gap with the United States by targeting sensitive corporate information and confidential research.

The renewed focus comes months after a federal jury in San Francisco convicted a former Google engineer of economic espionage and trade-secret theft involving confidential AI chip technology allegedly intended for a startup in China. In another case, three Iranian nationals, including former Google-linked engineers, were accused of stealing proprietary information connected to Tensor processors used in Pixel smartphones. The accused have denied the allegations.

Security experts have also warned about the growing use of covert tactics such as fake business networking, social engineering and online relationship scams to gain access to sensitive information from technology professionals. Reports in recent months have suggested that foreign operatives are increasingly targeting executives, researchers and engineers working in major American tech firms.

The latest warning reflects rising tensions between the United States and rival nations over technology dominance, cybersecurity and intellectual property protection. Analysts believe stricter enforcement and surveillance measures are likely to increase across America’s technology sector in the coming months.

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