Ex-OpenAI Engineer Accused of Spying Held by US Court
A US court has ordered the continued detention of a former OpenAI engineer accused of covertly recording a top-secret conference room, with federal prosecutors citing serious flight risks and potential ties to the Saudi government.
Radwan AbdulhadiEditor and technology writer
Court Denies Release for Former OpenAI Engineer
A US court granted a government request to deny the release of a former OpenAI engineer who was accused of bugging a top-secret conference room to steal secrets from the artificial intelligence laboratory. US Attorney Craig Missakian argued in a court filing that Abdulrahman Alfozan must remain detained while the government builds its case that he spied on OpenAI for personal business gain or to benefit the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, as reported by Business Insider.
Magistrate Judge Alex G. Tse agreed during a hearing that Alfozan should stay behind bars while preparing his defense. The government's motion outlines extensive evidence gathered by the FBI, including travel records, encrypted communications, and digital artifacts discovered on personal devices.
Allegations of Conference Room Surveillance
Alfozan, a Saudi national and US permanent legal resident who earned degrees from MIT and UC Berkeley, joined OpenAI as an engineer around July 2025 with an annual base salary of $325,000 alongside a significant equity grant. However, federal filings indicate his scheming against the company began shortly after his hiring.
Approximately two weeks before authorities intervened, OpenAI discovered a hidden recording device in a conference room. The device had reportedly remained in place for at least multiple days, capturing discussions during a top-secret meeting with visiting US government officials. Investigators also located photos on Alfozan's iPhone depicting another concealed recording device and electronic panels in various OpenAI buildings.
Digital Evidence and Foreign Recruitment Claims
According to the US government, digital forensics revealed that Alfozan used an OpenAI productivity agent to evaluate which conference rooms were best suited for espionage. Logs also suggested he utilized his wife's ChatGPT account to research modifications for covert recording devices to enable speech-triggered auto-recording and remote access control.
Further investigation of his iPhone uncovered WhatsApp logs indicating that a member of the Saudi royal family had been recruiting Alfozan. The correspondence reportedly included a message urging that "Saudi needs you more then [sic] the US!," to which Alfozan allegedly replied "100." On October 4, the FBI found that he accessed a folder named "Saudi Gov Docs" on his phone.
Flight Risk and International Connections
Federal prosecutors emphasized that Alfozan possessed ample resources to flee following a decade of high-tech employment in the Bay Area, alongside at least two bank accounts located in Saudi Arabia. The government noted he had booked a one-way ticket to Riyadh for himself, his wife, and their baby, which prosecutors alleged was paid for by the Saudi government.
After Alfozan's arrest, his wife and son boarded an expedited flight out of the country. The US maintained that a member of the Saudi military booked and paid for a business-class one-way ticket to Doha, Qatar, for his family members, drawing parallels to a past incident where former Twitter employees were charged with spying on users for Saudi officials.
Legal Arguments and Detention Status
In a detailed court filing, prosecutors argued that Alfozan posed an ongoing danger to national security and had virtually no incentive to stay in the United States to face trial. Although federal agents seized his Saudi passport during the arrest, prosecutors contended that he could acquire other travel documents with foreign assistance.
Legal proceedings are ongoing as the Department of Justice evaluates whether to file additional, more severe charges against the former engineer, who currently faces a maximum sentence of five years for the illegal recording allegations.
Sources
- Ars TechnicaAccused OpenAI spy had folder called “Saudi Gov Docs,” FBI says
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