An OpenAI employee has been arrested on charges of planting a recording device in one of the company’s conference rooms, according to the Justice Department. Abdulrahman Alfozan, a 35-year-old Saudi national, was detained and appeared in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California.
Alfozan worked at OpenAI as an engineer since July 2025. The incident came to light on September 30 when employees found an audio device connected to a USB port on a TV in an executive conference room. The device had been hidden in toilet paper and installed two days prior to its discovery.
OpenAI frequently holds confidential discussions in the room where the device was found, including topics on research and business development.
After the discovery, OpenAI contacted the FBI and terminated Alfozan’s employment. The company stated it has not found evidence of unauthorized access to model weights, source code, or customer data. They emphasized their commitment to security against threats, including insider risks and nation-state actors.
FBI Director Kash Patel confirmed the arrest and noted the ongoing investigation. The criminal complaint accused Alfozan of using productivity tools to research OpenAI’s building addresses, meeting rooms, and executive meeting details.
Additional evidence showed Alfozan’s spouse utilizing a chatbot account to inquire about constructing and installing a continuous audio recording device. Photos demonstrated Alfozan entering the conference room on October 5, inspecting the area behind the television.
On the same day, security personnel found Alfozan’s ID, wallet, and another recording device in a bag he left unattended. Alfozan is scheduled for a court appearance on October 19 for a detention hearing.
CBS News sought comments from Alfozan’s attorney.