FBI arrests OpenAI employee accused of planting hidden recording device in conference room


OpenAI said it has alerted the FBI after discovering that an employee allegedly planted a hidden recording device in one of the AI maker’s office executive conference rooms.

The employee, named by federal prosecutors as Saudi national Abdulrahman Alfozan, was fired and arrested on October 9, about a week after OpenAI discovered the surveillance device.

The company said in a post on X that it used its internal AI models to understand the “sophisticated” device. The device contained “advanced encryption, audio monitoring capabilities, and a mechanism for transferring data designed to evade monitoring,” though it is unclear to what degree this device is technically distinct from other recording devices.

Read more…
Source:  TechCrunch News


Sign up for the Cyber Security Review Newsletter
The latest cyber security news and insights delivered right to your inbox


Related:

  • DOJ warns FBI data breach likely extends to Justice Department employees

    November 4, 2026

    A major data breach of FBI systems likely also affected staffers across the Justice Department, according to a memo obtained by POLITICO. FBI investigators determined in September that a hack of a bureau jobs portal was a “major” cyber incident, allowing hackers to steal personal information on thousands of FBI agents, including Social Security numbers, birth ...

  • North Korean hackers blamed for stealing record $6.3B in Binance breach

    October 30, 2026

    Hackers working for the North Korean regime have been blamed for a record cryptocurrency heist following a cyberattack at crypto exchange Binance. The hackers stole at least $6.3 billion in crypto from the company’s wallets, though about half of that amount was frozen as the stolen crypto traveled across various blockchains, according to security researchers. The ...

  • Hacker stole personnel data about thousands of Homeland Security employees, including CBP and ICE agents

    October 28, 2026

    Personally identifiable information belonging to thousands of U.S. Department of Homeland Security employees has been published online after a hacker stole reams of data in a previously undisclosed breach at the government department earlier this year. The breach includes names, job titles, and work contact information, such as email addresses, cell phone numbers, and office locations, ...

  • Patient records exposed in Quest breach

    October 26, 2026

    Quest Diagnostics has confirmed that an unauthorized party accessed a system healthcare providers use to order laboratory tests and view results, affecting personal information and patient records. Quest is a major US laboratory testing company whose services help healthcare professionals diagnose and monitor medical conditions. Those services range from routine laboratory testing to specialized testing in ...

  • Florida DMV hacked after police dept insecurely stored login info

    October 19, 2026

    The Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles (FLHSMV) has begun notifying victims impacted by a recent data breach of driver’s license and motor vehicle data, but not everyone whose information was stolen will receive an alert. In a notice posted Friday, FLHSMV confirmed that it took “immediate steps” after discovering that “a malicious actor ...

  • Millions of California students’ sensitive data stolen in breach

    October 19, 2026

    Personal information belonging to millions of current and former California public school students has been stolen from a system operated by Educational Testing Service (ETS). ETS is a nonprofit organization that helps run the state’s standardized tests under contract with the California Department of Education (CDE). It has begun notifying students and families after an unauthorized ...