A prominent Indiana University cybersecurity professor who was recently targeted in an FBI raid has not been arrested, according to his legal representation.
Professor Xiaofeng Wang and his wife Nianli Ma remain "safe" and have not been detained, their attorney Jason Covert confirmed. While federal agents executed search warrants at two properties linked to Wang last week, Covert stated that no criminal charges are currently pending against the couple.
The FBI conducted "court authorized law enforcement activity" at homes in Carmel and Bloomington, Indiana, but has not disclosed the reason for the searches. The investigation comes after Indiana University reportedly spent months reviewing whether Wang had properly disclosed research funding from China.
Wang, who joined IU in 2004, is considered a leading researcher in privacy and data security. He established the Center for Distributed Confidential Computing in 2022 with a $3 million National Science Foundation grant. However, his faculty profile was recently removed from the university website.
On March 28, IU terminated Wang's employment via email, citing his acceptance of a position at a Singapore university starting June 2025. This firing has drawn criticism from faculty representatives who say it violated university policies regarding tenured professors.
"Prof. Wang and Ms. Ma are thankful for the outpouring of support they have received from colleagues at Indiana University and their peers across the academic community," said a statement provided by their attorney. "They look forward to clearing their names and resuming their successful careers at the conclusion of this investigation."
Indiana University has declined to comment on specifics, stating they were "recently made aware of a federal investigation" and are following FBI directions not to discuss the matter publicly.
The case has sparked concerns in academic circles about potential targeting of Chinese-born researchers, reminiscent of previous controversial Department of Justice campaigns. Some experts worry such investigations could discourage international talent from pursuing careers at American universities.