Former OpenAI employee accused of planting a device had Saudi backing, court filing shows

Summary

U.S. prosecutors allege that Abdulrahman Alfozan, 35, a former OpenAI employee accused of planting a recording device, was in frequent communication with an unnamed member of the Saudi Royal family, according to a court document. The same document says a member of the Saudi military paid for a one-way plane ticket for Alfozan's wife and son to return to Saudi Arabia. NDTV reports that the court filing alleges significant ties between the Saudi government and Alfozan. BBC reports that Alfozan has been denied bail, and that the Saudi government did not immediately respond to its requests for comment.

Timeline

1. NDTV

   19 Oct 2026, 15:42 UTCSource ↗

   NDTV reports that a court filing alleges significant ties between the Saudi government and Abdulrahman Alfozan, the former OpenAI employee who planted a device.

2. The Hindu

   19 Oct 2026, 15:51 UTCSource ↗

   The Hindu reports, citing a U.S. court document, that prosecutors allege Alfozan, 35, was in frequent communication with an unnamed Saudi Royal family member, and that a Saudi military member paid for a one-way plane ticket for his wife and son to return to Saudi Arabia.

3. BBC

   19 Oct 2026, 21:12 UTCSource ↗

   BBC reports that a court filing says the former OpenAI worker accused of planting a recording device had Saudi support, that he has been denied bail, and that the Saudi government did not immediately respond to its requests for comment.