A 47-year-old Swedish enterprise advisor has been charged with spying on a number of Swedish corporations together with Volvo and Scania.

The advisor is suspected of getting transferred materials from computer systems to reminiscence sticks in addition to taking photos of pc screens with the intention of promoting them to the foreign power.

“The person was apprehended while assembly a Russian diplomat the place he had simply obtained 27,800 Swedish crowns ($3,360) from the diplomat,” mentioned prosecutor Mats Ljungqvist, per Reuters. “Whereas a advisor at his former workplaces, I allege that he obtained materials with the aim of providing information to a foreign power, on this case Russia.”

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Scania has confirmed that the person, who stays publicly unnamed, had labored for it as a advisor. Volvo declined to remark to the media. If discovered responsible, he might withstand six years in jail.

Industrial espionage, particularly within the automotive space is a growing concern. Certainly, as lately as late final yr, Lordstown Motors was accused of company espionage. Not solely have automakers reportedly spied on one another to realize market benefits, however nations additionally spy on these industries, based on the FBI.

As an automaker heavily invested in autonomous technology, synthetic intelligence, in addition to the proprietor of a protection division, there are lots of the explanation why Volvo may need been focused right here. In fact, precisely what data is suspected of getting been stolen and offered to Russia has not been made clear.