Former OpenAI engineer Abdulrahman Alfozan pleaded not guilty on Nov. 6 in federal court in San Francisco to a charge of intercepting oral communications. Prosecutors allege he concealed a recording device in an office conference room. The case has drawn attention to workplace security and the protection of internal information at OpenAI, but the allegations have yet to be tested at trial.
Prosecutors allege device was hidden behind a conference-room TV
Federal authorities arrested Alfozan on Oct. 9 and charged him with intercepting oral communications. Prosecutors say the 35-year-old wrapped a recording device in toilet paper and hid it behind a television in an OpenAI conference room. Surveillance footage included with the charging documents shows a man looking behind the TV; prosecutors identify him as Alfozan.
Prosecutors also say records of his wife’s chatbot use included multiple questions about making, testing and concealing recording devices. These are allegations and evidentiary claims by the prosecution; the facts have not been established at trial.
Alfozan remains in custody after denying charge
At the Nov. 6 hearing, Judge Peter Kang advised Alfozan of his right to remain silent and to have a lawyer. His attorney, David Riz, waived a reading of the indictment and entered a not-guilty plea on his behalf.
Alfozan has been in custody for several weeks. A judge previously denied his request for release, finding that he posed a flight risk. His next hearing is scheduled for Nov. 17.
Work history includes Facebook and venture investing
Alfozan previously worked at Facebook and at Nash, a startup backed by Y Combinator. He also worked as a venture capitalist for a Saudi company. He and his wife live in Millbrae, California, and reports say he has lived in the United States since college.
A lawyer who previously represented Alfozan said he held a U.S. green card as a lawful permanent resident and had been scheduled to attend a naturalization interview in the weeks before his arrest. The criminal case remains ongoing, with the next court date set for Nov. 17.