Prosecutors Sealed OpenAI Bugging Case After Suspect Booked 3 One-Way Saudi Tickets
Updated
Updated · Gizmodo · Oct 14
Prosecutors Sealed OpenAI Bugging Case After Suspect Booked 3 One-Way Saudi Tickets
3 articles · Updated · Gizmodo · Oct 14
Summary
Oct. 8 court filings show federal prosecutors asked to seal the OpenAI bugging case because Abdulrahman Alfozan, his wife and another relative had booked one-way tickets to Saudi Arabia for Oct. 12.
The judge granted the request, and authorities arrested Alfozan on Oct. 9 before the planned San Francisco-to-Saudi trip via Istanbul, arguing he had both the means and incentive to flee.
Sept. 30 discovery of a hidden recorder plugged into a conference-room TV led OpenAI to alert the FBI; prosecutors cited CCTV, room-calendar searches and chatbot queries tied to Alfozan's wife about recording and SD-card encryption.
Prosecutors also said Alfozan left behind a bag containing a similar recording device, his wallet and ID, while the broader case has drawn scrutiny because he is a venture partner at Saudi firm Raed Ventures.