Designated with Yaya Jata Fanusie Chinese Economic Espionage: The Insider Threat with Scott Baucum | Designated
Mar 4, 2025
Scott Baucum, Vice President of Special Compliance and Asset Protection at Bayer U.S., shares his expertise on insider threats and economic espionage. Growing up in Texas, he transitioned from teaching agriculture to combating espionage aimed at biotech secrets. He discusses the complexities of insider threats, including a notable case involving a Chinese employee. Baucum emphasizes the need for proactive strategies to safeguard information, highlighting cultural differences in IP practices and the necessity of public-private partnerships for enhanced national security.
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Purple Maze Case
- The FBI contacted Scott Bauckham after a Chinese seed company employee was caught digging up seeds in Iowa.
- This incident, called the "Purple Maze" case, revealed Chinese efforts to steal agricultural technology.
CCP's Motivation
- The Chinese Communist Party targets American companies to steal valuable technology and bypass costly research.
- This allows them to quickly catch up to American innovation without investing the same resources or time.
The One That Got Away
- Bauckham lost one suspect after reacting too strongly.
- The suspect fled the country after Bauckham revealed he knew of the suspect's connection to the "Purple Maze" case.