{
  "id": 14300283,
  "title": "Saudi man charged with planting 'sophisticated' recording device in OpenAI office",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/13/saudi-man-charged-with-planting-sophisticated-recording-device-in",
  "topic": "ai",
  "section": "AI",
  "published": "2026-10-13T21:42:49.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "BBC Business",
    "slug": "bbc-business",
    "url": "https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cwg5jq4vlddzo?at_medium=RSS&at_campaign=rss"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "A Saudi engineer accused of secretly placing a covert recording device in an OpenAI office in California has been charged by federal prosecutors. Abdulrahman Alfozan, who worked at OpenAI as an engineer since July 2025, faces charges of using or attempting to use an electronic device to intercept oral communications. OpenAI discovered the sophisticated recording device hidden in their San Francisco office and alerted the FBI. The device, wrapped in toilet paper and inserted into a USB port on a TV in an executive conference room, was found by OpenAI employees on 30 September, two days after it was allegedly installed. Prosecutors allege Alfozan used an AI chatbot to research sensitive locations at OpenAI and methods for secretly placing audio equipment. He is accused of searching for terms such as \"building, customizing, installing, audio recording, testing, obfuscating, and remote accessing a device\" using the chatbot. Alfozan allegedly returned to the office on 5 October to inspect the device, and CCTV footage linked him to the scene. A similar recording device was found in a bag left unattended by Alfozan in another part of the building. If convicted, Alfozan faces up to five years in prison and a $250,000 fine.",
  "summary": "Prosecutors say the device, wrapped in toilet paper, was found inserted in a USB port on the back of a TV in an executive conference room.",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 3,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "BBC World",
        "title": "Saudi man charged with planting 'sophisticated' recording device in OpenAI office",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/13/saudi-man-charged-with-planting-sophisticated-recording-device-in-14300580",
        "published": "2026-10-13T21:42:49.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Al Jazeera",
        "title": "OpenAI engineer charged after listening device found in meeting room",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/13/openai-engineer-charged-after-listening-device-found-in-meeting-room",
        "published": "2026-10-13T23:55:33.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}