Amazon CEO Jeff Bezos was reportedly hacked by Saudi Arabia Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman in 2018, according to a new report from the Guardian’s Stephanie Kirchgaessner.
Citing unnamed sources with knowledge of an international investigation into the hacking, the Guardian report reveals that Bezos’ phone was infiltrated after opening a malicious video file sent from the crown prince’s number on WhatsApp.
The two men had reportedly exchanged friendly messages on WhatsApp on May 1, 2018, after which an unsolicited video file was sent from bin Salman’s account. After Bezos opened the file, data was rapidly extracted from his personal phone, according to the report.
The Saudi government called the Guardian’s report “absurd” in a tweet Tuesday night, calling for “an investigation on these claims so that we can have all the facts out.”
Bezos’ attorney told the Guardian that Bezos is “cooperating with investigations,” but declined to comment further.