We and our vendors use tracking technologies to recognize visitors and remember their preferences, for analytics, and for marketing, among other things. By clicking ‘Confirm,’ you consent to our and our vendors’ processing of your data using the above methods and as permitted by ourPrivacy Policy.
OpenAI engineer arrested in bugging of executive conference room
Federal prosecutors say an employee from Saudi Arabia planted an audio recorder and left another unattended in his bag.
An OpenAI engineer concealed a recording device in a conference room used by executives at the company, the Department of Justice claims. | Source: Justin Katigbak/The Standard
An OpenAI engineer has been arrested on suspicion of hiding an audio recording device in an executive conference room at the company’s San Francisco headquarters, federal prosecutors said Tuesday.
Abdulrahman Alfozan, 35, a Saudi national, was arrested Friday and charged with using or attempting to use a device to intercept oral communications. He made his initial appearance in federal court Tuesday and remains in custody.
An unattended bag found in the company’s offices contained Alfozan’s wallet and identification, as well as a recording device, according to the U.S. attorney’s office in San Francisco.
ADVERTISEMENT
Alfozan has worked as an engineer at OpenAI since July 2025, prosecutors said.
OpenAI personnel found the device Sept. 30. It was plugged into a USB port on the back of a television in an executive conference room and had been concealed in toilet paper, the complaint says. The company determined it was installed around Sept. 28, and its contents were encrypted.
