Saudi national charged with planting a listening device at OpenAI offices
Also reported by BBC Business
Summary
A Saudi engineer working at OpenAI was arrested for planting a hidden listening device in a conference room at the company’s California office. The FBI found the device and evidence that he planned to place more spying tools in sensitive areas of the offices.Key Facts
- Abdulrahman Alfozan, 35, a Saudi national and legal US resident, worked at OpenAI since July 2025.
- OpenAI discovered a small audio device behind a TV in a San Francisco conference room on September 30.
- The FBI caught Alfozan on camera checking the hiding spot days after the device was found.
- The device was thumb-sized, had a microphone, and could connect to a camera; it was hidden inside toilet paper behind the TV.
- Investigators also found a similar device in Alfozan’s personal bag.
- OpenAI said there is no evidence that he accessed or stole any secret code or customer data.
- Alfozan is charged with using an electronic device to intercept oral communications and could face up to five years in prison and fines.
- The case raises concerns about security around AI research due to its importance in technology and national security.
Read the Full Article
This is a fact-based summary from The Actual News. Click below to read the complete story directly from the original source.
