UK-Based Dissident Can Sue Saudi Arabia For Alleged Spyware, Court Rules

A Saudi dissident, Yahya Assiri, has been allowed to sue the Saudi government for allegedly targeting his devices with Pegasus spyware and other surveillance tools. Assiri, a founder of the opposition National Assembly Party, lives in exile in Britain and claims his devices were targeted between 2018 and 2020. He is accusing Saudi Arabia of using Pegasus, made by Israeli company NSO Group, and other spyware made by QuaDream, due to his work with dissidents. The High Court in London has given Assiri permission to serve his lawsuit on the Saudi government, finding that he has an arguable case. The decision was made on October 11, and Assiri will now serve the lawsuit on Saudi Arabia in Riyadh. Assiri stated that he is aware of the potential risks of targeting, but it is outrageous for the authorities to target individuals such as victims of rights abuses and their families in Saudi Arabia who have been in contact with him.