Toilet paper and secret recorders: What we know about the arrest of the Saudi OpenAI engineer
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Laura Cress
Technology reporter
Reuters/DOJ
A recording device (R) was wrapped in toilet paper and plugged into a TV (L)
A Saudi national who worked for OpenAI appeared in court this week for allegedly planting a secret recording device behind a TV in one of the tech giant's meeting rooms.
Abdulrahman Alfozan, a 35-year-old engineer, was arrested by the FBI and charged with using or attempting to use a device "to intercept oral communications".
As yet, it is not clear what he was planning to do with the recordings.
But, here's we do know so far.
Help from a chatbot
The engineer asked AI to help him listen in to discussions about AI, according to an official complaint (the document filed in court).
Between 17 August and 16 September, Alfozan had reportedly asked a productivity AI assistant several questions about meeting rooms and their availability.
Some detailed in the complaint include "how about external partners, where would they usually meet with OpenAI at" and "can you list today's meeting in this room".
The complaint also claimed that in September, Alfozan used a chatbot associated with his spouse to ask how to build and install a recording device and how to access it remotely.
Alfozan had worked at the firm for around a year before he allegedly made his attempt to plant a recorder.
The room where the device was found was regularly used to hold meetings to discuss "highly confidential technical, commercial and strategic information" as well as OpenAI's "government engagements and commercial relationships", the complaint stated.
Alfozan had no authority to access or be involved with meetings in the room, the complaint states.
But CCTV footage recorded him near the conference room on eight separate occasions in September.
Hiding in plain toilet paper
On 30 September, OpenAI staff discovered a "surreptitious audio recording device" behind a television - which had been wrapped in toilet paper.
A camera was placed in the conference room and on 5 October, Alfozan was filmed entering the room and appeared to look behind the television where the device had been inserted.
The complaint also stated that same day he allegedly left an unattended bag in a different room.
When security personnel opened it, it was found to contain "another recording device" similar to the one discovered, as well as Alfozan's wallet and ID.
In a post on X, OpenAI wrote it had used its own AI models to "understand the device and where it had come from".
It also said: "At this time, we have no indications of this individual inappropriately accessing or exfiltrating model weights, source code, or customer data."
Reuters/DOJ
Alfozan was captured looking behind a television where a device had been inserted
Who is Abdulrahman Alfozan?
Alfozan had been employed as an engineer by OpenAI since July 2025. The complaint said he was educated in the US and has been a legal permanent resident since 2020.
He was arrested by the FBI on 9 October and his contract with OpenAI has been terminated.
Alfozan's lawyer William Pernik told the BBC: "Like countless Americans, Mr Alfozan came to this country years ago as a young person with a dream.
"These allegations appear wholly out of character for him, and we will relentlessly investigate all evidence produced by the government in this case to understand what actually happened, who was responsible and any possible reasons why."
Pernik added: "In the meantime, we respectfully ask everyone to withhold judgment until full facts become known. Like every one of us, Mr Alfozan is presumed innocent, and what has been made public is an accusation, not a finding of guilt."
On Tuesday, Alfozan made his initial appearance in a federal court in California. A detention hearing is scheduled on 19 October to determine whether he should remain in custody while proceedings continue.
The FBI investigation is ongoing.
If convicted, Alfozan faces a maximum penalty of five years in prison and a $250,000 (£190,000) fine.
