Guardian investigation reveals joint role between X and Saudi Arabia in monitoring and silencing critics of the Saudi regime

A lengthy investigation published by The Guardian found that Saudi investments in X (formerly Twitter) have significantly increased the Kingdom’s influence in the U.S. tech sector, while the platform has been used to monitor and silence critics of the Saudi government.

The investigation traces years of ties between Saudi Arabia and Silicon Valley, including major investments in U.S. tech startups across transport, fintech, and AI. It found that X has been used to limit the reach of critical accounts and weaken their ability to speak freely—through content suppression and targeting anonymous users. It also revisits prior revelations about former Twitter employees Ahmad Abouammo and Ali Alzabarah who, according to U.S. prosecutors, cooperated with Saudi officials to obtain sensitive user data, including direct messages and IP addresses, enabling authorities to track dissidents at home and abroad. One known victim is Abdulrahman al-Sadhan, sentenced to 20 years and forcibly disappeared for years.

The report notes that Saudi involvement went beyond direct share purchases, relying on a complex network of companies and investment vehicles that helped shape corporate policy and governance—while the earlier espionage episode has not been substantively addressed.

Experts cited in the piece say the case illustrates how large-scale Gulf investments intersect with the ambitions of authoritarian states to leverage technology for control, raising serious questions about digital security, censorship, and political influence via global social networks. It also highlights the gap between Big Tech’s stated free-speech commitments and its practices in markets targeted by foreign investment.