Saudi Arabia

Commercial entities involved

Overview

Extensive documented abuses of spyware to target political opponents and civil society

Recent activity & sources

• Dec 4, 2025Researchers find Predator spyware is being used in several countries, including IraqThe Record (Recorded Future)
• Mar 1, 2024Predator Spyware Infrastructure Returns Following Exposure and SanctionsRecorded Future (Insikt Group)
• Aug 19, 2022High Court gives green light to Pegasus spyware case in London against the Kingdom of Saudi ArabiaLeigh Day
• Dec 16, 2021Threat Report on the Surveillance-for-Hire IndustryMeta
• Dec 16, 2021Pegasus vs. Predator: Dissident's Doubly-Infected iPhone Reveals Cytrox Mercenary SpywareThe Citizen Lab
• Jul 19, 2021Massive data leak reveals Israeli NSO Group's spyware used to target activists, journalists, and political leaders globallyAmnesty International
• Jul 15, 2021Hooking Candiru: Another Mercenary Spyware Vendor Comes into FocusThe Citizen Lab
• Dec 20, 2020The Great iPwn: Journalists Hacked with Suspected NSO Group iMessage 'Zero-Click' ExploitThe Citizen Lab
• Jan 28, 2020Stopping the Press: New York Times Journalist Targeted by Saudi-linked Pegasus Spyware OperatorThe Citizen Lab
• Oct 1, 2018The Kingdom Came to Canada: How Saudi-Linked Digital Espionage Reached Canadian SoilThe Citizen Lab
• Sep 18, 2018Hide and Seek: Tracking NSO Group's Pegasus Spyware to Operations in 45 CountriesThe Citizen Lab
• Aug 1, 2018Amnesty International Among Targets of NSO-powered Campaign (Saudi activists)Amnesty International
• Oct 15, 2015Mapping FinFisher's Continuing ProliferationThe Citizen Lab
• Feb 17, 2014Mapping Hacking Team's "Untraceable" SpywareThe Citizen Lab