{"id":21447,"date":"2026-10-15T12:06:16","date_gmt":"2026-10-15T12:06:16","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/news.theck1.no\/?p=21447"},"modified":"2026-10-15T12:06:16","modified_gmt":"2026-10-15T12:06:16","slug":"recording-device-hidden-in-toilet-paper-found-in-top-secret-openai-meeting-room","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/news.theck1.no\/?p=21447","title":{"rendered":"Recording device hidden in toilet paper found in top-secret OpenAI meeting room"},"content":{"rendered":"

AI-rewritten:<\/strong> This is a summary of an article from Ars Technica, rewritten by AI (Qwen, running locally) to make it easier to read. The facts come from the original article – read it for the full story.<\/p>\n

Ars Technica •
\n Ashley Belanger
\n • October 14, 2026<\/strong><\/div>\n\n

OpenAI discovered a hidden recording device in its top-secret executive conference room after two days. The FBI alleges that Abdulrahman Alfozan, a 35-year-old Saudi engineer with permanent US legal residency since 2020, planted the USB drive on September 28. To conceal it, Alfozan allegedly wrapped the device in toilet paper and plugged it into the back of the room’s television. OpenAI found the item on September 30 and determined its contents were encrypted.<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

FBI Director Kash Patel stated that Alfozan sought to spy on OpenAI and risk leaking trade secrets that threaten national security. According to FBI special agent Lydia Liang, the device was a Chinese-made Seeed XIAO ESP32-S3 Sense customized to obfuscate stored audio communications. Liang noted the microSD card had an encrypted file system layout. Additionally, chatbot logs from Alfozan and his spouse referenced the device’s MAC address and queries on how to set up speech-triggered recording and encryption.<\/p>\n

Alfozan faced potential charges of unlawful recording, carrying a maximum penalty of five years in prison and a $250,000 fine. OpenAI gradually cut off his system access before firing him on Friday, timing the dismissal with the FBI’s arrest announcement. Liang reported that CCTV footage showed Alfozan attempting to retrieve the first device on October 5. Security personnel later found a second identical recording device inside a bag left unattended in a printer room.<\/p>\n

\n

Source:<\/strong> Ars Technica •
\n Ashley Belanger
\n • October 14, 2026<\/p>\n

Read the original article at Ars Technica →<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

AI-rewritten: This is a summary of an article from Ars Technica, rewritten by AI (Qwen, running locally) to make it easier to read. The facts come from the original article – read it for the full story. Ars Technica • Ashley Belanger • October 14, 2026 OpenAI discovered a hidden recording device in its top-secret<\/p>\n

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