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Mon, 19 Oct 2026

Mon, 19 Oct 2026 Ex-OpenAI worker accused of planting device had Saudi support, says court filing

The Saudi government did not immediately respond to BBC requests for comment.

* A Saudi national, Abdulrahman Alfozan, has been accused of secretly planting a recording device in an OpenAI meeting room.
* Prosecutors claim Alfozan had "considerable support" from the Saudi government and was in frequent communication with a member of the Saudi royal family.
* A member of the Saudi military paid for a one-way flight to Saudi Arabia for Alfozan's wife and son after his arrest.
* Alfozan, who worked at OpenAI for around a year, was deemed a flight risk and denied bail pending trial.
* The court filing claims that Alfozan's alleged conduct could pose a danger to US national security because executives from the tech firm met with government officials in the room during the days the device was believed to have been installed.
* Prosecutors argue that Alfozan has little incentive to remain in the US and will likely flee back to Saudi Arabia if released on bail.
* The FBI investigation is ongoing, and Alfozan faces a maximum penalty of five years in prison and a $250,000 fine if convicted.