FBI Conducts Searches at Homes of Indiana University Cybersecurity Professor

FBI Conducts Searches at Homes of Indiana University Cybersecurity Professor: Last week, FBI agents executed search warrants at two residences owned by XiaoFeng Wang, a computer science professor at Indiana University, and his wife, Nianli Ma, an analyst at the university's libraries.

This development has raised questions regarding the couple's positions at the university as of Monday. Wang, known for his research in cryptography, privacy, and cybersecurity, had his online profile removed from Indiana University's Luddy School of Informatics, Computing, and Engineering. Similarly, Ma's profile from the university's libraries division has also been taken down. When approached by CNBC regarding the couple's employment status, a spokesperson for Indiana University stated, "I'll refer you to the FBI for any information." An FBI spokeswoman confirmed that federal search warrants were executed at residences in Carmel and Bloomington on Friday, adding, "We have no further comment at this time." Currently, there are no records indicating any federal criminal charges against either Wang or Ma. Wang, who has served at Indiana University for 20 years, previously held the position of associate dean for research at the Luddy School. According to an archived profile, his research has received funding from several federal agencies, amounting to nearly $23 million over various projects. A Luddy School page that was still accessible on Monday noted, "Dr. Wang's research emphasizes system security and data privacy, with a focus on security and privacy challenges in mobile and cloud computing, as well as privacy issues related to the dissemination and computation of human genomic data." During the searches, which also involved agents from the Department of Homeland Security, the FBI spent over four hours at the residences, removing boxes filled with undisclosed items. Footage obtained by WTHR-TV shows an agent taking a phone from a woman believed to be Ma while she was outside their Carmel home.

While the search in Carmel was underway, the FBI also conducted an operation at the couple's Bloomington home, which is situated approximately 70 miles southwest of Carmel. Bennett, the couple's attorney, previously served as a federal prosecutor in the office of Independent Counsel Kenneth Starr from 1995 to 1999, during the investigation of then-President Bill Clinton. Bennett notably questioned Clinton during his testimony before a grand jury regarding his relationship with former White House intern Monica Lewinsky.
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Edited by Bosman