FBI weighs spy charge against OpenAI engineer

The FBI is evaluating whether to add an economic espionage charge to the case of Abdulrahman Alfozan, a Saudi national accused of bugging an OpenAI office. A law enforcement official told The Wall Street Journal that the probe is examining if the 35-year-old engineer stole corporate information to provide to the Saudi government, even though he was not formally recruited to do so.

Alfozan, a legal permanent resident of the United States, faces existing federal charges for violating a recording statute. Prosecutors allege he hid a thumb-sized device with a microphone and camera behind a television in a San Francisco conference room. The room is primarily used by company executives. If convicted on the current charges, he faces a maximum prison sentence of five years.

Federal prosecutors detailed a history of contact between Alfozan and an unnamed member of the Saudi royal family in court filings. The documents show frequent WhatsApp communications throughout 2025 and 2026. The royal family member reportedly attempted to recruit Alfozan for a new AI initiative in Saudi Arabia. A message sent to Alfozan read, "Saudi needs you more than [sic] the US!" Alfozan replied "100" but stated he would not leave the United States until his OpenAI stock options vested.

According to the filings, the last recorded communication occurred on Oct. 5. That is the same day Alfozan allegedly visited the conference room to check on the recording device. OpenAI said security staff discovered and removed the device on Sept. 30 during a routine sweep. The company contacted the FBI after finding the hidden hardware. Alfozan was arrested earlier this month.

Alfozan's attorney, William Pernik, told the WSJ that his client has not received notice of any additional charges from the government. OpenAI is currently determining if the incident represents corporate espionage or state-sponsored spying, according to a source familiar with the investigation. A law enforcement official noted that the review may not result in further charges. The Saudi embassy in Washington and OpenAI did not provide comments.

Alfozan studied computer science at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. He previously worked at Meta and other technology companies before joining OpenAI in July 2025, per the FBI complaint. Last week, San Francisco federal judge Alex Tse ordered Alfozan detained without bail. Tse cited a substantial risk of flight and described the Saudi Consulate's offer to pay the bail in full as problematic.

Alfozan's next court hearing is scheduled for Nov. 6.