FBI arrests Abdulrahman Alfozan for allegedly hiding recorder at OpenAI
A Saudi engineer, Abdulrahman Alfozan, was arrested by the FBI after allegedly hiding a recording device at OpenAI's San Francisco office.
The device was found and traced using AI technology, leading to his firing and possible charges that could mean up to five years in prison and a $250,000 fine.
Alfozan accused of recording OpenAI meetings
Alfozan is accused of trying to secretly record sensitive AI meetings by stashing the device behind a TV in a conference room. Investigators say he used his spouse's account to look up ways to secretly record conversations.
OpenAI says no user data or confidential information was leaked.
Before joining OpenAI in July 2025, Alfozan worked at other Silicon Valley companies and studied at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and the University of California, Berkeley.
The case is raising fresh concerns about privacy and security in tech workplaces.