US prosecutors allege ex-OpenAI employee accused of planting device had Saudi royal ties

Summary

US federal prosecutors allege that Abdulrahman Alfozan, an ex-OpenAI employee accused of planting a recording device in an OpenAI building, was in frequent contact with an unnamed member of the Saudi royal family and had Saudi backing. Prosecutors argued the defendant had considerable support from a foreign government, and a US judge ruled he should not be released on bail. Hindustan Times describes the arrested man as a Saudi national who was in touch with a member of the Saudi Royal Family, according to US prosecutors. These points are prosecution allegations, not established findings.

Timeline

1. Al Jazeera

   19 Oct 2026, 18:23 UTCSource ↗

   Al Jazeera reports that US federal prosecutors allege the defendant was in frequent contact with an unnamed member of the royal family and had Saudi backing.

2. Financial Times

   19 Oct 2026, 21:27 UTCSource ↗

   The Financial Times reports that a US judge ruled Abdulrahman Alfozan should not be bailed after US government prosecutors argued he had considerable support from a foreign government, and that prosecutors link him to Saudi royals.

3. Hindustan Times

   20 Oct 2026, 06:17 UTCSource ↗

   Hindustan Times reports, citing US prosecutors, that a Saudi national arrested for planting a recording device in an OpenAI building was in touch with a member of the Saudi Royal Family.