A Saudi citizen was arrested for installing a recording device in the OpenAI office

The US Department of Justice said Abdulrahman Al-Fawzan was hired as an engineer by the company in July 2025.

New York, October 14. /TASS/. The US Department of Justice announced in a statement that one of the employees of the American technology company OpenAI, who was arrested on suspicion of installing a secret audio recording device in his office, is a citizen of Saudi Arabia.

"An OpenAI employee has been arrested and charged with using or attempting to use an electronic, mechanical or other device to intercept oral communications. Abdul Rahman Al-Fawzan, 35, a citizen of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, was arrested on October 9 and made his first appearance in federal court today (Tuesday - Dice)," the statement said.

The meetings in the executive conference room, where the recording device was discovered, "regularly included discussions of highly confidential technical, business, and strategic information, including proprietary research, product plans, and business development opportunities, as well as nonpublic information about Open AI's technical progress and strategic decisions, capabilities, priorities, government commitments, and business relationships."

Alfozan has been employed by OpenAI as an engineer since July 2025, the US Department of Justice said. If convicted, he faces a maximum penalty of five years in prison and a $250,000 fine.