FBI Weighs Espionage Charge Against Saudi Engineer in OpenAI Case

The Federal Bureau of Investigation is evaluating whether to add an economic espionage charge to the case against 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 engineer stole company information for the Saudi government, even if he was not formally recruited to do so. Alfozan, 35, is a legal permanent resident of the United States who joined OpenAI as an engineer in July 2025.

Alfozan was arrested earlier this month on charges that he violated a federal recording statute. Prosecutors allege he concealed a thumb-sized device containing a microphone and camera in toilet paper and plugged it behind a television in a San Francisco conference room used primarily by executives. If convicted, he faces a maximum prison sentence of five years. His next court hearing is scheduled for 6 November.

Federal prosecutors filed court documents showing that Alfozan maintained frequent WhatsApp communications with an unnamed member of the Saudi royal family throughout 2025 and 2026. The court filing states that the family member attempted to recruit Alfozan for a new AI initiative in Saudi Arabia. The royal contact told Alfozan, "Saudi needs you more than [sic] the US!" according to the documents. Alfozan allegedly responded with "100" but indicated he would not leave the United States until his OpenAI stock vested.

The most recent communication between the two parties occurred on 5 October, the same day Alfozan allegedly visited the conference room to check on the recording device. OpenAI stated that it had already removed the device during a security sweep on 30 September. The company contacted the FBI after the discovery. A source familiar with the investigation said OpenAI is determining whether the incident constitutes corporate espionage or state-sponsored spying. The law-enforcement official noted that the investigation may not result in further charges.

Alfozan's attorney, William Pernik, told The Wall Street Journal that his client had not received information from the government regarding additional charges. The Saudi embassy in Washington and OpenAI did not comment on the case. Alfozan studied computer science at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and previously worked at Meta and other technology firms before joining OpenAI.

Last week, San Francisco federal judge Alex Tse ordered Alfozan detained without bail. The judge cited a substantial risk that Alfozan would flee. Judge Tse described the Saudi Consulate in Los Angeles offer to pay the full bail amount as "problematic." The case highlights security concerns regarding the protection of confidential information as governments and companies compete in the development of advanced artificial intelligence.