FBI Arrests OpenAI Engineer for Hiding Covert Recording Device in Office Conference Room
nordicinst · x · 2026-10-14
OpenAI disclosed that its counter-surveillance team found a hidden recording device during a Sept. 30 sweep of a conference room at its San Francisco offices, concealed in the USB port behind a TV. The company said the device was built to evade detection, used advanced encryption, could monitor audio and exfiltrate data covertly — and the employee planned to plant more devices in sensitive areas to secretly record meetings.
The DOJ identified the suspect as Abdulrahman Alfozan, 35, a Saudi national who joined OpenAI's product team as an engineer in July 2025. He was fired on Friday, the day of his arrest. OpenAI also used its most advanced AI models to help investigators analyze copies of the device's stored data and track changes to it.
Related event: OpenAI uncovers hidden recording device; Saudi engineer arrested by FBI(82 posts)→
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