Court Rules Saudi Arabia Behind Hack of Exiled YouTuber * Science and Technology Times

A London court has ruled that Saudi Arabia was responsible for hacking and harassing YouTuber Ghanem al‑Masarir after he posted satirical videos critical of the kingdom’s leadership.
The judgement links the Pegasus spyware attack and a physical assault in London to Saudi agents.
Despite winning more than four million dollars in damages, al‑Masarir says the ordeal has left lasting psychological harm.

A YouTuber Targeted After Online Satire

Ghanem al‑Masarir built a large following with satirical YouTube videos criticizing Saudi Arabia’s rulers, amassing more than three hundred million views. His outspoken style attracted both fans and powerful adversaries, and by 2018 he began noticing unusual behaviour on his phones. Devices slowed down, batteries drained rapidly and unfamiliar individuals appeared repeatedly around London. These incidents raised concerns that he was being monitored.

Cybersecurity experts later confirmed that al‑Masarir had been infected with Pegasus, a sophisticated spyware tool capable of accessing cameras, microphones and location data. The hack occurred after he clicked on links in text messages disguised as news alerts. Once compromised, his movements became easy to track, enabling persistent harassment by individuals he believed were linked to the Saudi regime. The situation escalated into physical violence later that year.

In August 2018, two men confronted him in central London, demanding to know why he criticized the Saudi royal family. They punched him in the face and continued the assault until bystanders intervened. The attackers shouted insults, including calling him a “slave of Qatar,” before fleeing the scene. The High Court later described the attack as premeditated and noted that one assailant wore an earpiece.

High Court Finds Saudi Arabia Responsible

After six years of legal proceedings, the High Court ruled that Saudi Arabia was responsible for both the hacking and the assault. Justice Saini wrote that there was “a compelling basis” to conclude the actions were directed or authorized by the kingdom or its agents. The court found that Saudi Arabia had a clear motive to silence al‑Masarir’s public criticism. As a result, the judge awarded him more than three million pounds in damages.

Saudi Arabia did not participate in the later stages of the case. The kingdom initially argued it was protected under the State Immunity Act of 1978, but the court rejected that claim in 2022. Since then, Saudi authorities have not filed a defence or responded to court orders. It remains uncertain whether the awarded damages will ever be paid.

Harassment continued even after the assault. In 2019, a child approached al‑Masarir in a London café and sang a song praising King Salman while being filmed. The clip went viral on social media and was broadcast on Saudi state television. On the same day, another man warned him that his “days are numbered,” further heightening his fear.

Life After the Attack and the Role of Pegasus

Al‑Masarir, who has lived in the UK for more than twenty years and is now a British citizen, says the events profoundly changed him. Once confident and outspoken, he now avoids central London and rarely leaves his home in Wembley. He has not posted a YouTube video in three years, saying the campaign against him succeeded in silencing his voice. Despite the court victory, he describes feeling depressed and violated by the intrusion into his private life.

Citizen Lab, a research group at the University of Toronto, played a key role in confirming the Pegasus infection. Their analysis concluded it was highly likely the hack was carried out on behalf of Saudi Arabia. Pegasus, developed by Israeli firm NSO Group, is marketed as a tool for governments to track criminals and terrorists. However, it has repeatedly been found on the devices of journalists, activists and political dissidents worldwide.

Al‑Masarir says he intends to pursue enforcement of the judgement, even through international courts if necessary. He believes accountability is essential, even if compensation cannot undo the damage. The Saudi embassy in London did not respond to requests for comment. For al‑Masarir, the case highlights the risks faced by critics of powerful governments, even when living abroad.