DUBAI: Cambridge University pauses £400m UAE deal over spyware claim

DUBAI: The University of Cambridge has
paused a proposed £400m partnership with the United Arab Emirates (UAE) due to
the alleged use of Pegasus spyware, its vice-chancellor said.

Last
week, the High Court found the ruler of Dubai ordered the hacking of the
phone of his ex-wife.

In July,
the university said it was in talks with the UAE about a potential partnership.

Prof
Stephen Toope, Cambridge’s vice-chancellor, said it was now “on
hold”.

Speaking
into the university’s student newspaper Varsity, he said: “The revelations
about Pegasus caused us to decide that it’s not the right time to be pursuing
these kinds of really ambitious plans with the UAE.

“It’s
always a question of fine balance: of course you have to assess the opportunity
that’s being presented to make a difference in the world and the risks to
reputation of a whole series of important values for the university.

“There
are existing relationships across the university on a departmental and
individual academic level but there are no conversations about a big project.

“It’s
all on hold for now.”

The High
Court found Sheikh Mohammed Al Maktoum interfered with British justice by
ordering the hacking of the phone of his ex-wife, Princess Haya of Jordan.

The
phones of her solicitors, Baroness Fiona Shackleton and Nick Manners, were also
targeted during their divorce custody case, according to the court.

In its
ruling, the court said the hacking used the software called Pegasus, from the
Israeli company, the NSO Group.

Sheikh
Mohammed denied any knowledge of the hacking.

A
University of Cambridge spokesman said it approached the proposed partnership
with the UAE “with an open mind and rigorously weighing the opportunities
to contribute to society – through collaborative research, education and
innovation – against any challenges”.

“We
will be reflecting over the next few months before further evaluating our
long-term options with our partners and with the university community,” he
added.