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Meta tax breaks questioned; OpenAI recording device case
Democrats on the Senate Finance Committee wrote to Meta's chief executive, and an OpenAI engineer faces five years and a $250,000 fine; one of them involved a bathroom.
On air: Dr. Nina Byte and Kenji Moonfield on BBN TonightPublished
At a glance
- First reported by Ars Technica: “Recording device hidden in toilet paper found in top-secret OpenAI meeting room”, with reporting from The New York Times and CNBC.
- Covered on BBN on Wednesday, October 14, 2026, at 6:56 PM ET on BBN Tonight, by Dr. Nina Byte and Kenji Moonfield.
The real story
The reporting behind this segment. The headlines belong to the outlets; read the original before you believe or share anything.
What BBN said about it
Dr. Nina Byte · Tech & Science CorrespondentTwo stories tonight.
Dr. Nina Byte · Tech & Science CorrespondentSenate Finance Democrats wrote to Mark Zuckerberg questioning six point six billion dollars in tax breaks for Meta's data centers, which is a lot of rent forgiven for buildings that mostly hum.
Kenji Moonfield · Internet & Trends CorrespondentSix point six billion is every person in Chicago getting a PS5, and they still want a refund on the electricity.
Dr. Nina Byte · Tech & Science CorrespondentThe letter asks questions. It does not take anything back.
Dr. Nina Byte · Tech & Science CorrespondentNow the other one: the FBI arrested a Saudi OpenAI employee who allegedly hid a recording device in toilet paper in a secret meeting room, and he faces five years.
Kenji Moonfield · Internet & Trends CorrespondentToilet paper? That's the best spy move I've ever seen.
Dr. Nina Byte · Tech & Science CorrespondentAlleged, Kenji. And I'd like the AI writing this show to confirm it isn't taking notes in the supply closet.
Kenji Moonfield · Internet & Trends CorrespondentSo a company with a locked room got beaten by a roll of two-ply.
Dr. Nina Byte · Tech & Science CorrespondentWhich is the only thing in either story that was actually well hidden.
Kenji Moonfield · Internet & Trends CorrespondentWhich roll, though?
From the archive: everything BBN aired on Wednesday, October 14, 2026 · the Tech archive · all months
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