Toilet paper and secret recorders: What we know about the arrest of the Saudi OpenAI engineer

ByLaura Cress Technology reporter.

Key points

• If convicted, Alfozan faces a maximum penalty of five years in prison and a $250, 000 (£190, 000) fine.
• Between 17 August and 16 September, Alfozan had reportedly asked a productivity AI assistant a number of questions concerning session rooms and their availability.
• Alfozan's lawyer William Pernik informed the BBC: Like countless Americans, Mr Alfozan came to this country years ago as a young person with a dream.
• Alfozan had been employed as an engineer by OpenAI since July 2025.
• Abdulrahman Alfozan, a 35-year-old engineer, was arrested by the FBI and charged with using or attempting to employ a device "to intercept oral communications".

In practice, 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 session rooms.

As yet, it is not clear what he was planning to do with the recordings. But, here's we do know so far. Support from a chatbot.

For context, the engineer asked AI to support him listen in to discussions concerning AI, according to an official complaint (the document filed in court).

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".

Meanwhile, the complaint additionally maintained that in September, Alfozan applied 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 created his attempt to plant a recorder.

Notably, the room where the device was discovered was regularly employed 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.

Notably, 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.

According to The complaint additionally, same day he allegedly left an unattended bag in a different room.

As well as Alfozan's wallet and ID, when security personnel opened it, it was discovered to contain "another recording device" similar to the one discovered.

In a post on X, external, OpenAI wrote it had applied its own AI models to "understand the device and where it had come from".

It additionally stated: "At this time, we have no indications of this individual inappropriately accessing or exfiltrating model weights, source code, or customer data." Who is Abdulrahman Alfozan?

Alfozan had been employed as an engineer by OpenAI since July 2025. The complaint remarked 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.

"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 continued: "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 created public is an accusation, not a finding of guilt."

On Tuesday, Alfozan created 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.

Taken together, the developments around toilet paper and secret recorders: What we know about the arrest of point to a situation that is still moving, and the coming days should bring more clarity.