FBI arrests OpenAI engineer over alleged hidden recorder in executive meeting room
OpenAI engineer Abdulrahman Alfozan, 35, was arrested on 9 October and charged with allegedly planting a recording device in a San Francisco conference room. The US Justice Department says the room hosted sensitive discussions; OpenAI says it found no indication that model weights, source code or customer data were accessed. The FBI investigation is ongoing, and the allegations have not been proved in court.
Bottom line — If convicted, Alfozan faces up to five years in prison and a €230,000 fine (US$250,000).
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OpenAI said its AI models helped analyse the device and identify the employee suspected of planting it.
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The device was found on 30 September, plugged into a USB port behind a television and concealed with toilet paper, according to the Justice Department.
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Prosecutors allege a second similar device was later found in a bag linked to Alfozan.
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The complaint alleges that searches linked to Alfozan and a chatbot account associated with his spouse concerned meeting rooms, recording equipment and remote access.
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OpenAI said it dismissed Alfozan and referred the matter to the FBI.