# OpenAI Engineer Charged Over Alleged Recorder in Conference Room By Riza Dagoc Canonical URL: https://www.tokenpost.com/news/regulation/32169 Published: 2026-10-15T01:43:43.000Z Updated: 2026-10-15T01:43:43.000Z Section: Regulation > The complaint says the device was found on or about Sept. 30. OpenAI said it had no indication of improper access to company data. Federal prosecutors charged OpenAI engineer Abdulrahman Alfozan with using or attempting to use a device to intercept oral communications, alleging a recorder was placed in a room used for confidential company meetings. A federal criminal complaint alleges the encrypted device was installed around Sept. 28 and found on or about Sept. 30. It was concealed in toilet paper and connected to a USB port on the back of a television. The complaint says the executive conference room was used for discussions involving confidential technical, commercial and strategic information, including proprietary research and product plans. The complaint describes office footage placing Alfozan near the room on multiple dates and prompts about recording devices from a chatbot account associated with his spouse. It alleges Alfozan was not authorized to enter the room or attend meetings there. OpenAI security staff found a second similar device in an unattended bag on or about Oct. 5, alongside Alfozan’s wallet and identification. OpenAI said its models helped analyze the device and identify the employee it believed installed it. The company said it had no indication Alfozan improperly accessed or exfiltrated model weights, source code or customer data. The complaint does not establish whether the recorder captured or transmitted conversations, and it does not allege that a foreign government directed the conduct. Alfozan, 35, had worked at OpenAI as an engineer since July 2025. The charge carries a maximum five-year prison sentence and a $250,000 fine, plus three years of supervised release. The FBI investigation is ongoing. The case follows [earlier coverage of the charge](). ## Links in this article - [earlier coverage of the charge](https://www.tokenpost.com/news/regulation/31526)