Saudi satirist hacked with Pegasus spyware wins damages in court battle

In a significant legal victory, a Saudi satirist and human rights advocate has been awarded more than £3 million ($4.1 million) in damages by the London High Court. The court found substantial evidence indicating that the activist's phone had been compromised with advanced spyware typically utilized by governments. Ghanem Al-Masarir, a London-based comedian whose YouTube channel gained considerable popularity for its critiques of the Saudi government, initiated legal action against the Saudi authorities in 2019. He alleged that his phone had been targeted in 2018 using Pegasus, a sophisticated mobile spyware developed by NSO Group, which sells its technology exclusively to governmental entities. In addition to the digital surveillance, Al-Masarir reported being physically assaulted in London during the same timeframe. He has accused agents linked to Crown Prince Mohammad bin Salman of orchestrating the attack. Research indicates that physical assaults can often accompany digital surveillance efforts like those involving Pegasus. The Saudi government attempted to dismiss Al-Masarir's claims by asserting state immunity, a defense that had previously succeeded in a case surrounding the murder of journalist Jamal Khashoggi. However, the High Court dismissed this argument in Al-Masarir's case, leading the kingdom to withdraw from further participation in the legal proceedings, as reported by Reuters. Justice Pushpinder Saini, who presided over the case, noted the compelling evidence that Al-Masarir's devices were hacked, resulting in unauthorized data extraction. The judge also suggested that the Saudi government or its representatives likely authorized the hacking and was possibly involved in the assault against Al-Masarir. It remains uncertain whether the Saudi government will comply with the court's ruling or if they intend to appeal the decision. Efforts to reach NSO Group and the Saudi Embassy for comments have so far gone unanswered.