[tmh79]

RE the stroz report: from what I've heard, AL did take a bunch of files, and he planned to use as leverage against google/waymo to get his 120m bonus, and Uber told him more or less "dont let that shit touch anything we do". He also had some kind of big google earth photo taking kit at his house for long after he quit google.

[calafrax]

well, no problem then. just stealing your employer's property to use to use for extortion. what a nothingburger.

[kuschku]

They had previously refused to pay him wages that they had agreed to pay.

It is common in parts of the programming world — especially when dealing with untrustworthy clients — to keep a way to take their IP/disable their website/turn off their domain/etc unless they pay you on time.

[mikeryan]

No it's not. Illegally holding on to property that's not yours isn't leverage - its theft and leaves you open to prosecution. If you have a contract with someone and they're in breach then the courts provide you an avenue for relief - not blackmail.

[deeth_starr_v]

If this was his intention this is a really dumb strategy. He went from having a valid lawsuit for his bonus to loosing his company and being at the loosing end of a lawsuit. I don't buy him being that dumb. He just didn't think he was going to get caught.

[calafrax]

i have never seen this behavior, so it isn't that common, and even if it were it would still be illegal unless it is something that has been agreed to contractually.