FBI Arrests OpenAI Employee Suspected of Planting a Surveillance Bug
Espionage in AI labs poses a national security threat, according to US intelligence and security officials.
The FBI has arrested an OpenAI employee, Abdulrahman Alfozan, on charges of planting a surveillance device in a company executive's conference room. Alfozan, a 35-year-old Saudi Arabian citizen and legal permanent resident of the US, joined OpenAI's product team in July 2025. He was fired and arrested on October 9, facing up to five years in prison and a $250,000 fine.
The device, described as thumb-sized with a detachable camera sensor and microphone, was discovered in a TV port. A second device was found in a bag left in a printer room, along with Alfozan's wallet and ID. The conference room, accessible only by executives and their assistants, was frequently used for discussing proprietary research and meetings with government and industry officials.
OpenAI claims to have evidence Alfozan planned to install more surveillance bugs. The incident highlights the importance of AI development in national security, as emphasized by US Director of National Intelligence Jay Clayton. OpenAI stated it has taken steps to contain the security risk and that its products and customer data remain secure.
This is one of the first public cases of espionage against an AI lab, a trend that has intensified in a global competition to create the most advanced AI.
Written by urgent.news from CNET's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
