Tesla accuses a former employee of stealing 26,000 confidential files, denying him a mistake

Tesla has sued a software engineer for stealing 26,000 sensitive files containing scripts to automate important tasks. The accused explained that it was the company's instructions to copy the file to his PC and that he simply unintentionally moved the folder to Dropbox in an attempt to make a backup.

Tesla sues former employee for allegedly stealing 26,000 confidential files --France 24

Tesla sues former employee for allegedly stealing software code
https://www.cnbc.com/2021/01/22/tesla-sues-former-employee-for-allegedly-stealing-software-code.html

Ex-staffer being sued by Tesla denies he stole massive cache of code
https://nypost.com/2021/01/22/ex-staffer-being-sued-by-tesla-denies-he-stole-massive-cache-of-code/

The accused was software engineer Alex Katilov. According to Tesla, the accused was hired as a senior software quality assurance engineer on December 28, 2020, and 'stolen' sensitive files by the time the security team noticed them on January 6, 2021. ..

The sensitive file contains scripts to automate important Tesla business tasks such as parts ordering and vehicle delivery, and only 50,000 Tesla employees have access to the file. But it seems that there are only about 40 people.

Defendant Katilov, meanwhile, said he was very surprised not knowing he was being sued until he was contacted by the security team and fired the same day.

Defendant Katilov told the New York Post that the sensitive file was told to download it because he needed it for work. He explained that putting the sensitive files in Dropbox was a mistake when trying to make a backup and he didn't intend to give it to anyone.