FBI weighs five-year espionage charge in OpenAI spying case
Law enforcement officials say the FBI is evaluating whether Abdulrahman Alfozan stole information for the Saudi government.
By Owen Fitzgerald ·
The FBI is considering adding an economic espionage charge against Abdulrahman Alfozan, a 35-year-old Saudi national and former OpenAI engineer. A law enforcement official told The Wall Street Journal that investigators are probing whether Alfozan took company information to hand over to the Saudi government, even if he was not formally recruited to do so.
The case began when OpenAI found a small device hidden behind a television in a San Francisco conference room. Alfozan had wrapped a thumb-sized microphone and camera in toilet paper before plugging it in. The company removed the device during a security sweep on September 30, 2026, and notified the FBI. Alfozan was arrested earlier this month on federal charges that include violating a recording statute. He faces a maximum prison sentence of five years if convicted.
Court filings reveal that Alfozan was in frequent contact via WhatsApp with an unnamed member of the Saudi royal family throughout 2025 and early 2026. The family member allegedly tried to recruit Alfozan for a new Saudi AI initiative, telling him, “Saudi needs you more than [sic] the US!” Alfozan replied with “100” but said he would wait for his OpenAI stock to vest before leaving. Prosecutors state their most recent recorded communication occurred on October 5, the same day Alfozan allegedly visited the conference room to check on the hidden device.
Alfozan’s attorney, William Pernik, told the WSJ that his client has not yet received notice of any additional charges. The Saudi embassy in Washington and OpenAI have not commented. OpenAI is currently working to determine if the incident represents corporate espionage or state-sponsored spying. The law enforcement official noted that the investigation may not result in further charges.
Last week, U.S. District Judge Alex Tse ordered Alfozan detained without bail due to the risk that he might flee. The judge described the offer from the Saudi Consulate in Los Angeles to pay the bail in full as problematic. Alfozan, a legal permanent resident, studied computer science at MIT and worked at Meta before joining OpenAI in July 2025.
Alfozan’s next court hearing is scheduled for November 6.
Source: Middle East Eye
