DOJ Charges Saudi OpenAI Engineer Over Hidden Office Recorder

A Saudi national who worked as an engineer at OpenAI has been charged with federal wiretapping violations after prosecutors say he hid an encrypted recording device inside a USB port on an executive conference room television, according to the BBC.

What was the device and where was it found?

Prosecutors say the device was wrapped in toilet paper and inserted into a USB port on the back of a TV in an executive conference room at OpenAI's San Francisco office, the BBC reported. The device was encrypted, according to prosecutors, and OpenAI said it has no indication that source code, model weights, or customer data were accessed or taken during the incident.

Who is the defendant and what is he charged with?

Abdulrahman Alfozan has been charged with using or endeavoring to use an electronic, mechanical, or other device to intercept oral communications, federal prosecutors said, per the BBC. Alfozan had worked at OpenAI as an engineer since July 2025. FBI Director Kash Patel said in a statement that Alfozan "allegedly concealed a covert recording device inside his employer's executive conference room to secretly capture sensitive communications," and said the alleged goal was to capture information about the company's AI product. OpenAI has fired the employee, the company said. It is unclear whether Alfozan has legal representation; he appeared in court on Tuesday, according to the BBC.

How did OpenAI discover the device?

OpenAI employees found the hidden recorder on Sept. 30 — two days after prosecutors say it had been installed, the BBC reported. The company said it used its own AI models "to understand the device and where it had come from, identifying that a specific employee had planted it a few days earlier." OpenAI then alerted the FBI, which used building CCTV footage to allege Alfozan returned to the conference room on Oct. 5 to inspect the device.

"[Alfozan] allegedly concealed a covert recording device inside his employer's executive conference room to secretly capture sensitive communications." — FBI Director Kash Patel

What does the FBI say he searched for?

According to the FBI's complaint, Alfozan used a "productivity tool" and a "chatbot" to research sensitive locations inside OpenAI's offices and how to secretly place audio equipment, the BBC reported. Prosecutors allege his chatbot prompts included queries about "building, customizing, installing, audio recording, testing, obfuscating, and remote accessing a device." He is also accused of asking a chatbot about "build[ing] a continuous audio recorder," "customiz[ing] Wi-Fi ... connectivity," "improv[ing] audio and live listening," and "encrypt[ing] the SD card," according to the complaint cited by the BBC.

On Oct. 5, the same day prosecutors say he returned to check on the hidden device, Alfozan allegedly left a bag unattended elsewhere in the building. OpenAI's security team opened it and found his wallet, his ID, and a second recording device similar to the one in the conference room, prosecutors said.

What happens next?

If convicted, Alfozan faces up to five years in prison and a fine of $250,000, according to the BBC. The case is being prosecuted federally, and no trial date has been reported.

Case at a glance

• Device installed: Sept. 28, 2026 (alleged)
• Device discovered by OpenAI staff: Sept. 30, 2026
• Suspect allegedly returns to check device: Oct. 5, 2026
• Second device found in unattended bag: Oct. 5, 2026
• Maximum penalty if convicted: 5 years in prison, $250,000 fine
• Employee's tenure at OpenAI: Since July 2025

What to watch

• Whether Alfozan retains legal counsel and how he pleads to the wiretapping charge.
• Whether prosecutors release additional detail on the "productivity tool" and chatbot logs cited in the complaint.
• Whether OpenAI discloses any policy changes to physical security or conference-room equipment following the incident.
• Whether the case prompts scrutiny of insider-threat practices at other AI labs handling sensitive model and product information.

The episode adds to a string of insider-security incidents at AI companies this year, though the BBC's report does not link this case to other OpenAI personnel matters. OpenAI has not detailed what, if any, audio was captured by the device before it was found.

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