U.S. Drops Charges That Professor Shared Technology With China
The US Justice Department charged Temple University physicist Xi Xiaoxing with sharing sensitive American-made technology with China. The case was based on blueprints in Xi's possession of what DOJ claimed was a pocket heater, a piece of specialized equipment used in semiconductor research. When Xi and his lawyers saw the evidence, they realized that the blueprints were not of sensitive equipment at all. "Faced with sworn statements from leading scientists, including an inventor of the pocket heater, the Justice Department on Friday afternoon dropped all charges against Dr. Xi, an American citizen," reports the New York Times.
"It was an embarrassing acknowledgment that prosecutors and FBI agents did not understand — and did not do enough to learn — the science at the heart of the case before bringing charges that jeopardized Dr. Xi’s career and left the impression that he was spying for China."
Folks, really now...this is really messed up and disgusting!
Full article via NYT
http://www.nytimes.com/2015/09/12/us/politics/us-drops-charges-that-professor-shared-technology-with-china.html?_r=0
#physics
Nice. Buy a pocket heater at Cabela's, be Chinese and you're a suspected conspirator.
ReplyDeleteA reminder not to bring prototype electronics or schematics where inspectors could see them. What I see as a popular hobby project could be seen as a device out of an action movie that brings down a nation... those colorful twisty wires and parts is all they see...
ReplyDeleteFalse charges can ruin a career and even a life. I think that there is sometimes too much paranoia that people are thieves or spies, especially when they are from different ethnic backgrounds or belief systems
ReplyDeleteIt's outrageous how this case was handled, or rather, mis-handled.
ReplyDeleteGentlemen, check out.......http://www.voanews.com/content/analysts-beijing-military-parade-a-bazaar-of-stolen-technology/2946768.html
ReplyDeleteI am totally not advocating that incomplete investigative work should be the standard. Quite the opposite.....But at the same time lets look at facts of what has been outright stolen and see the forest through the trees.
ReplyDeleteHey Dan...while I do understand what are you pointing out still does not justifies the way this case was handled. Let's not charge people - scientists or not - based on a hunch. It's important to have investigators that do understand the science behind all the sci- tech innovations.
ReplyDeleteI've seen the feds completely ruin the lives of well meaning people and activists. From what I have seen, fighting federal charges requires insane legal fees every year the case drags on to perpetually...and thanks to forfeiture laws, defending one's self is absolutely impossible without a wealthy family. Remember Aaron and the law made after him.
ReplyDeleteCorina, agreed, there is a need for more trained scientists in investigations. Hunches have no place in official charges.
ReplyDeleteMy in-artful point, in rooted in frustration with seeing how much tech, and intellectual property that is being stolen, and the apparent lack of accountability. It's like we are always three steps behind.
Anyhow, hope you and family are warm and safe.