UK YouTuber Wins $4.1M After Saudi-Linked Hack and Assault
London: Saudi-born comedian Ghanem al-Masarir, a popular YouTuber, has won a major legal battle in the UK. A court ruled that Saudi Arabia orchestrated both the hacking of his phone and a violent assault in London. Consequently, the High Court awarded him £3 million ($4.1 million) in damages, although it remains unclear if Saudi Arabia will pay.
Pegasus Spyware Breach Exposed
Al-Masarir first noticed unusual activity on his phones in 2018. They slowed down, and batteries drained fast. Meanwhile, he realised that people were following and harassing him. Cybersecurity experts later confirmed that Pegasus spyware, developed by Israel’s NSO Group, infected his devices. “They could see my location, turn on my camera and microphone, and access all my photos. I felt completely violated,” al-Masarir told the BBC.
Physical Attacks in Central London
Al-Masarir experienced multiple attacks over the years. For instance, two men confronted him over his criticism of the Saudi royal family and punched him. Passers-by eventually intervened, forcing the attackers to flee. Later, a child sang a song praising King Salman outside a cafe, and another man warned him, “Your days are numbered.” Despite this, the UK court concluded that Saudi agents likely authorised these attacks to silence him.
Legal Victory and Lasting Impact
After six years of legal proceedings, the court ruled in al-Masarir’s favour, citing a “compelling basis” for Saudi involvement. However, the attacks left a lasting impact. He avoids central London and has not posted on YouTube in three years. “No amount of money can undo the harm. The hack changed me. I’m not the same Ghanem I used to be,” he said. As a result, this ruling sets a precedent for holding foreign governments accountable for cyber harassment and violence against dissidents.
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