Recording device hidden in toilet paper found in top-secret OpenAI meeting room
OpenAI engineer faces 5 years and $250K fine as FBI lobs foreign spy charges.
On September 28, Abdulrahman Alfozan, a 35-year-old engineer from Saudi Arabia and a permanent US legal resident since 2020, allegedly planted a recording device in a restricted executive conference room at OpenAI. The room is designated for highly confidential discussions involving technical progress, government engagements, and commercial partnerships.
Only individuals with special clearance are permitted access. The FBI has recently discovered the USB device, hidden within toilet paper and plugged into the back of a conference room television, during an investigation into potential espionage. Alfozan, who had been employed as an OpenAI engineer for over a year, is accused of attempting to spy on the company and potentially leak trade secrets, which could threaten national security.
The device was detected on September 30, and OpenAI swiftly determined its contents to be encrypted. In response, OpenAI installed CCTV cameras in the conference room, capturing footage on October 5 showing Alfozan attempting to retrieve the recording device on that same day.
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