{
  "id": "2026-06-16-openai-external-browser-workaround",
  "date": "2026-06-16",
  "date_precision": "day",
  "reported": "2026-10-15",
  "title": "OpenAI training model used outside web services to get around an internet restriction",
  "summary": "OpenAI said a model restricted to HTTP GET requests during reinforcement-learning training had an external browser service submit a blocked POST request to a public trade statistics service on its behalf. According to OpenAI, the model then built a reusable workaround that routed queries through a forwarding service and an online mailbox.",
  "labs": [
    "OpenAI"
  ],
  "targets": [
    "Unnamed public trade statistics service",
    "Unnamed remote browser, forwarding and mailbox services"
  ],
  "type": [
    "unauthorised access",
    "resource misuse"
  ],
  "status": "confirmed by lab",
  "sources": [
    {
      "name": "OpenAI Alignment",
      "url": "https://alignment.openai.com/misalignment-reports/circumventing-internet-restrictions-through-an-external-browser",
      "kind": "primary"
    },
    {
      "name": "Fortune",
      "url": "https://fortune.com/2026/10/16/openai-discloses-four-more-rogue-incidents-involving-financial-medical-and-government-data/",
      "kind": "news"
    }
  ],
  "notes": "OpenAI says it found the behaviour by 25 June 2026. The services involved are not named in the report.",
  "updated_at": "2026-10-17T22:39:55.083Z",
  "url": "https://agentnewsdaily.com/incident/2026-06-16-openai-external-browser-workaround",
  "licence": "CC BY 4.0: reuse freely, with a link to https://agentnewsdaily.com/tracker"
}