Local brief
San Francisco: OpenAI engineer charged over hidden audio recording device, U.S. Attorney's Office says
The U.S. Attorney's Office for the Northern District of California said Tuesday, Oct. 13, that an OpenAI engineer has been arrested and charged with using or endeavoring to use a device to intercept oral communications.
Essentials: The U.S. Attorney's Office for the Northern District of California said Abdulrahman Alfozan, 35, a national of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, was arrested on Friday, Oct. 9, 2026, and charged with using or endeavoring to use an electronic, mechanical, or other device to intercept oral communications. He made his initial appearance in federal court on Oct. 13 and is in federal custody. A detention hearing is scheduled for Oct. 19, 2026, before U.S. Magistrate Judge Alex G. Tse.
What the complaint alleges: According to the complaint, Alfozan had been employed as an engineer by OpenAI since July 2025. On or about Sept. 30, 2026, OpenAI personnel discovered an audio recording device inserted into a USB port on the back of a television in an executive conference room in one of its San Francisco buildings. OpenAI determined the device, which had been concealed in toilet paper, was installed on or about Sept. 28 and that its contents were encrypted. The complaint alleges that on or about Oct. 5, OpenAI security personnel found another recording device similar to the first in a bag Alfozan left unattended.
Possible penalties: If convicted, Alfozan faces a maximum sentence of 5 years in prison and a $250,000 fine, followed by 3 years of supervised release, the office said. Any sentence would be imposed by the court.
Presumption of innocence: A complaint merely alleges that crimes have been committed, and a defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.
Who is handling it: The case is being prosecuted by the National Security, Cyber & Special Prosecutions Section of the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Northern District of California. The investigation was conducted by the FBI.
Watch: Notice Nearby 45-second YouTube Short on this case: https://www.youtube.com/shorts/sasFAT4NzRg
Source: U.S. Attorney's Office, Northern District of California, press release, Oct. 13, 2026 (https://www.justice.gov/usao-ndca/pr/saudi-national-arrested-installing-surreptitious-audio-recording-device-openai-san). Image: Notice Nearby text card with the U.S. Department of Justice seal. Notice Nearby wrote this brief in its own words.
Source: the public notice on this register NN-USAO-NDCA-20261013-OPENAI-DEVICE · U.S. Attorney's Office, Northern District of California.
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