The London High Court has ordered the Saudi Arabian government to pay over £3 million ($4.1 million USD) to Ghanem Al-Masarir, a Saudi satirist and activist. The ruling follows the discovery of “compelling evidence” that the Saudi state utilized government-grade Pegasus spyware to infiltrate Al-Masarir’s personal mobile devices.
A Targeted Digital and Physical Campaign
Al-Masarir, a London-based comedian known for his viral YouTube content critiquing the Saudi regime, initiated legal proceedings in 2019. He alleged that his phone was targeted with Pegasus—a sophisticated mobile surveillance tool developed by the NSO Group—as early as 2018. Beyond the digital breach, Al-Masarir was subjected to a physical assault in London during the same period, an incident he attributes to agents acting on behalf of Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman.
Judicial Rejection of State Immunity
The Saudi government attempted to dismiss the lawsuit by invoking claims of state immunity. This defense mirrors arguments previously used in litigation surrounding the assassination of journalist Jamal Khashoggi. However, the High Court rejected this assertion, leading the Kingdom to withdraw from the litigation process, as noted by Reuters.
The Verdict: Evidence of State-Sponsored Espionage
In his formal ruling, Justice Pushpinder Saini was explicit regarding the state’s culpability. “There is a compelling basis for concluding that [Al-Masarir’s] iPhones were hacked by Pegasus spyware which resulted in the exfiltration of data,” Saini wrote. The court further determined that the hacking and the physical assault were likely “directed or authorised” by the Saudi government.
For Al-Masarir, the intersection of digital surveillance and physical intimidation proved devastating, ultimately forcing him to abandon his successful YouTube career due to the severe psychological toll and clinical depression that resulted from the state-sponsored targeting.
Uncertainty Regarding Enforcement
Despite the substantial judgment, it remains unclear whether the Saudi government intends to honor the court’s financial award or if a formal appeal will be filed. Representatives for the NSO Group and the Saudi Embassy in Washington, D.C., have not provided comments regarding the court’s decision.