The Saudi royal family stopped talking to each other.
Not from anger but from fear.
MBS had bought $55M worth of Pegasus spyware and was monitoring their every word.
Here's the chilling story of how surveillance destroyed family trust 🧵
Not from anger but from fear.
MBS had bought $55M worth of Pegasus spyware and was monitoring their every word.
Here's the chilling story of how surveillance destroyed family trust 🧵
In 2017, Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman made a purchase that would forever change the nature of royal power:
NSO Group's Pegasus spyware for $55 million.
This wasn't just another defense contract.
It was the beginning of history's most audacious family surveillance operation.
NSO Group's Pegasus spyware for $55 million.
This wasn't just another defense contract.
It was the beginning of history's most audacious family surveillance operation.
Within months of the purchase, the House of Saud saw a dramatic shift.
Traditional royal consensus-building was severely disrupted.
Senior princes grew more cautious, and open dissent became rare.
Traditional royal consensus-building was severely disrupted.
Senior princes grew more cautious, and open dissent became rare.
Pegasus transforms any smartphone into a complete surveillance device.
Every text, call, photo, and location becomes visible to the operator.
But MBS didn't stop at monitoring dissidents. Intelligence sources confirm he turned this digital weapon on his own royal relatives.
Every text, call, photo, and location becomes visible to the operator.
But MBS didn't stop at monitoring dissidents. Intelligence sources confirm he turned this digital weapon on his own royal relatives.
The Saudi monarchy had never seen anything like it.
The scale became clear through leaked NSO client data.
Saudi Arabia deployed Pegasus against hundreds of targets.
Jeff Bezos. New York Times reporters. Saudi activists.
The scale became clear through leaked NSO client data.
Saudi Arabia deployed Pegasus against hundreds of targets.
Jeff Bezos. New York Times reporters. Saudi activists.
But the most shocking targets were never publicly revealed: members of the royal family itself.
Why spy on your own family?
In traditional Saudi governance, senior princes held real power.
They could challenge decisions, form alliances, even depose rulers.
Why spy on your own family?
In traditional Saudi governance, senior princes held real power.
They could challenge decisions, form alliances, even depose rulers.
MBS eliminated this threat not through execution or exile but through total digital surveillance.
The technology was devastatingly effective.
Pegasus exploits "zero-day" vulnerabilities, meaning it's virtually undetectable.
The technology was devastatingly effective.
Pegasus exploits "zero-day" vulnerabilities, meaning it's virtually undetectable.
Many royal family members likely did not realize the full extent to which their private communications could be monitored by MBS.
Even family dinners and private complaints were at risk of exposure.
Even family dinners and private complaints were at risk of exposure.
The human cost was immediate and profound.
Traditional Saudi royal consultations became theater.
Princes self-censored, knowing their phones were compromised.
The psychological impact of constant surveillance transformed the family dynamic entirely.
Traditional Saudi royal consultations became theater.
Princes self-censored, knowing their phones were compromised.
The psychological impact of constant surveillance transformed the family dynamic entirely.
But MBS made a critical mistake: he got caught.
In 2021, a massive leak exposed NSO's client list and targets.
Forensic analysis revealed the stunning scope of Saudi surveillance operations.
International investigators documented systematic targeting of journalists, activists and crucially, the digital fingerprints pointing to royal family surveillance.
In 2021, a massive leak exposed NSO's client list and targets.
Forensic analysis revealed the stunning scope of Saudi surveillance operations.
International investigators documented systematic targeting of journalists, activists and crucially, the digital fingerprints pointing to royal family surveillance.
The evidence was overwhelming:
- Means: Pegasus gave MBS unprecedented access to any smartphone
- Motive: Eliminating royal family opposition to his power consolidation
- Opportunity: The 2017 purchase coincided perfectly with his rise to Crown Prince
The digital panopticon was complete.
- Means: Pegasus gave MBS unprecedented access to any smartphone
- Motive: Eliminating royal family opposition to his power consolidation
- Opportunity: The 2017 purchase coincided perfectly with his rise to Crown Prince
The digital panopticon was complete.
The international backlash was swift but muted.
Diplomatic sources knew the truth but couldn't publicly discuss internal Saudi royal surveillance.
Meanwhile, MBS had achieved something no Saudi ruler ever had:
complete information dominance over his own family.
Diplomatic sources knew the truth but couldn't publicly discuss internal Saudi royal surveillance.
Meanwhile, MBS had achieved something no Saudi ruler ever had:
complete information dominance over his own family.
The Jeff Bezos hack in 2018 revealed the operation's sophistication.
If the world's richest man wasn't safe from MBS's digital reach, no royal family member stood a chance.
NSO's Pegasus had transformed from a counterterrorism tool into the ultimate weapon of family control.
If the world's richest man wasn't safe from MBS's digital reach, no royal family member stood a chance.
NSO's Pegasus had transformed from a counterterrorism tool into the ultimate weapon of family control.
Legal challenges began mounting in 2024.
UK courts allowed Saudi surveillance victims to sue the kingdom directly.
But the royal family targets?
They remained silent trapped between family loyalty and the knowledge that their every word was monitored.
UK courts allowed Saudi surveillance victims to sue the kingdom directly.
But the royal family targets?
They remained silent trapped between family loyalty and the knowledge that their every word was monitored.
Here's what investigators discovered but rarely discuss publicly:
MBS used Pegasus intercepts to predict and prevent royal family opposition before it could organize.
Traditional Saudi coups became impossible when the potential leader's plans were known in advance.
MBS used Pegasus intercepts to predict and prevent royal family opposition before it could organize.
Traditional Saudi coups became impossible when the potential leader's plans were known in advance.
The psychological warfare was devastating.
Royal family members began avoiding sensitive conversations entirely.
They communicated through intermediaries, used coded language, or simply stopped communicating altogether.
The family that had ruled Saudi Arabia for nearly a century now faced an unprecedented climate of fear and suspicion.
Royal family members began avoiding sensitive conversations entirely.
They communicated through intermediaries, used coded language, or simply stopped communicating altogether.
The family that had ruled Saudi Arabia for nearly a century now faced an unprecedented climate of fear and suspicion.
Tech experts call it the "Pegasus Paradox": surveillance technology so powerful it can eliminate opposition before it forms.
MBS proved that digital authoritarianism could achieve what traditional oppression never could: total preemptive control.
MBS proved that digital authoritarianism could achieve what traditional oppression never could: total preemptive control.
The broader implications are terrifying:
If surveillance technology can silence even ruling families, what chance do ordinary citizens have?
MBS's family surveillance operation represents a new evolution in authoritarian control, one being studied by dictators worldwide.
If surveillance technology can silence even ruling families, what chance do ordinary citizens have?
MBS's family surveillance operation represents a new evolution in authoritarian control, one being studied by dictators worldwide.
NSO Group initially denied knowledge of internal Saudi royal targeting.
But leaked documents revealed the company knew exactly how their "counterterrorism" software was being used.
The Israeli firm had enabled the digital imprisonment of an entire royal family.
But leaked documents revealed the company knew exactly how their "counterterrorism" software was being used.
The Israeli firm had enabled the digital imprisonment of an entire royal family.
By 2024, the damage was profound.
Traditional Saudi governance, based on family consultation and consensus, had been deeply undermined by digital autocracy.
MBS had achieved absolute power not through violence, but through the simple act of watching everyone.
Traditional Saudi governance, based on family consultation and consensus, had been deeply undermined by digital autocracy.
MBS had achieved absolute power not through violence, but through the simple act of watching everyone.
The most chilling aspect?
Other authoritarian leaders are taking notes.
China, Russia, and Iran are all developing similar internal surveillance capabilities.
The Saudi royal family became the test case for digitally-enabled family control.
Other authoritarian leaders are taking notes.
China, Russia, and Iran are all developing similar internal surveillance capabilities.
The Saudi royal family became the test case for digitally-enabled family control.
Today, MBS rules Saudi Arabia with unprecedented authority.
Royal opposition has been eliminated not through execution or exile, but through the psychological devastation of constant surveillance.
The $55 million Pegasus purchase didn't just buy spyware - it bought the future of authoritarian power.
Royal opposition has been eliminated not through execution or exile, but through the psychological devastation of constant surveillance.
The $55 million Pegasus purchase didn't just buy spyware - it bought the future of authoritarian power.
Here's the real story no one discusses openly:
The Saudi royal family, one of the world's most powerful dynasties, was quietly transformed into digital prisoners by one of their own.
Traditional family loyalty collapsed under the weight of omnipresent surveillance.
The Saudi royal family, one of the world's most powerful dynasties, was quietly transformed into digital prisoners by one of their own.
Traditional family loyalty collapsed under the weight of omnipresent surveillance.
One spyware purchase. Hundreds of family members monitored.
Centuries of Saudi royal tradition?
All meaningless compared to the power of knowing everyone's secrets.
The future of authoritarian control just shifted permanently.
Centuries of Saudi royal tradition?
All meaningless compared to the power of knowing everyone's secrets.
The future of authoritarian control just shifted permanently.
I’m Shawn, a Generative AI Consultant passionate about building AI-driven solutions.
I write about AI, startups, and the future of work.
I write about AI, startups, and the future of work.
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