A cybersecurity professor disappears during an FBI search. His family is "determined to fight."

The wife of Xiaofeng Wang, a professor specializing in data privacy who was dismissed from his position at Indiana University, Bloomington, on the same day that the FBI conducted searches at their homes, expressed her belief that her family has been the subject of an unjust approach by the U.S. government, labeling the situation as “misdirected accusations of academic misconduct.” Nianli Ma stated that her family is determined to fight, not only for their well-being but also in defense of a broader research community that could be affected if these accusations go unchallenged.

This is the first time Ma has spoken publicly since the FBI searches took place at the end of March. She participated in a webinar organized by a nonprofit group that supports Asian American scholars, the Asian American Scholar Forum. Previously, Ma had served as a library analyst at the university before she too was abruptly fired just days before the FBI investigations at the couple’s homes. Ma expressed her disbelief over how the institution, to which they had dedicated two decades of their lives, could have treated them in such a way without explaining the reasons or following an appropriate process, especially in her husband’s case. Additionally, she commented that she has experienced weight loss and trouble sleeping, feeling trapped in a constant state of anxiety and sadness.

Wang’s case has raised concerns among academics, who fear that the Department of Justice’s program known as the China Initiative is being revived under the new administration. This program, initiated during Donald Trump’s first administration with the aim of combating economic espionage, was criticized for allegedly unfairly targeting researchers of Chinese descent and Asian American academic communities. Subsequently, the DOJ abandoned the program under the Biden administration after losing several associated cases.

One of the most notable cases related to this issue was that of MIT professor Gang Chen, who was accused in 2021 under the China Initiative for failing to disclose connections with various Chinese institutions in his funding applications. Chen also participated in the webinar, and the charges against him were dropped the following year, as the disclosures were not required according to federal regulations.

During the seminar, concern was expressed over Ma’s story, and Chen commented that the imagery of the FBI search at the couple’s home evokes fear that many other families have experienced under the China Initiative. Brian Sun, a member of the legal advisory board of AASF, mentioned that there currently seems to be no evidence that Wang’s case involves any illegal transfer of technology.

U.S. Representative Grace Meng from New York, who delivered the keynote address at the event, expressed her concerns about the current administration's attempts to reinstate the China Initiative, arguing that it did not significantly address national security concerns but created a chilling effect on research and scientific innovation, ruining the lives of those falsely accused.

The FBI declined to comment on the case, and Indiana University did not immediately respond to requests for comments. In previous statements, the university indicated that, at the FBI's request, it would not make public comments regarding the investigation or the professor's status.

Indiana University had reportedly been investigating whether Wang had received undisclosed research funding from China. The university contacted him in December to inquire about a 2017-2018 grant from a Chinese source that allegedly listed him as a researcher. It was noted that Wang had reportedly recently accepted a position at a university in Singapore.

On March 28, Wang was dismissed via an email sent by Provost Rahul Shrivastav. Wang is a recognized researcher in the field of data privacy and security, and he has received funding from various federal sources throughout his career.

Wang's situation not only has personal repercussions but could also deter academics from collaborating with international researchers, impacting the competitiveness and national security of the United States, as Chen highlighted during the seminar.