US EditionUK Court Awards £3 Million to Saudi Dissident Over Spyware and Assault Claims
The court found Saudi Arabia responsible for hacking and assaulting activist Ghanem Al-Masarir, awarding over £3 million including £2.5 million for lost YouTube earnings.
- Following a High Court hearing last week, Mr Justice Saini entered summary judgment on Monday for Ghanem Al-Masarir after the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia failed to submit a defence, ordering compensation of over £3million.
- As a satirist and activist critical of the Saudi government, Ghanem Al-Masarir built a large profile with nearly 350 million YouTube views, making him an obvious target after moving to England in 2003 and receiving asylum in 2018.
- Evidence presented to the High Court describes covert infection of two mobile phones with Pegasus spyware, which allegedly tracked location, intercepted calls, and activated microphones and cameras.
- The judge awarded Ghanem Al-Masarir over £2.5m of damages for lost YouTube income and £100,500 for pain and suffering, citing severe depression.
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Saudi Arabia had sought to have the 2018 case dismissed on the basis of State immunity, but this argument was rejected by the British courts.
TechCrunch
RocketNewsSaudi satirist hacked with Pegasus spyware wins damages in court battle
The London High Court awarded the London-based satirist and human rights activist Ghanem Al-Masarir more than £3 million, after finding the Saudi government hacked his phone and was likely behind a physical attack targeting him in London.
Saudi dissident awarded $4.1 million by UK court for hacking, assault 'by Saudi Arabia'
A Saudi human rights activist who accuses Saudi Arabia of targeting him with spyware and directing his assault on the streets of London was awarded just over 3 million pounds ($4.1 million) in damages by London's High Court on Monday.
Saudi Activist Awarded £3 Million by UK Court Over Hacking, Assault
A Saudi human rights activist has been awarded more than £3 million ($4.1 million) by a London judge following claims he was a victim of hacking and assault at the hands of the Saudi Arabian government while living in the UK.
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