Did Saudi Arabia spend billions on EA Games to get Canadians' Data?

It is the biggest leveraged buyout in history.

Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund (PIF) just bought EA Games: one of the world’s biggest video game companies.

PIF joined forces with two American investment firms (one run by Trump’s son-in-law, Jared Kushner) to buy the gaming giant for $55 billion.

But this could be about a lot more than just video games.

EA has more than 700 million players worldwide, and it’s collecting vast amounts of data on them.

What are the national security and privacy implications of a foreign sovereign wealth fund controlling a company with all that data?

And given EA has a Canadian subsidiary with Canadian employees and, of course, Canadian players — how has the Canadian government scrutinized this deal?

Host: Gemma Boothroyd

Credits: Gemma Boothroyd (Reporter), Bruce Thorson (Senior Producer), Chad Galloway (Audio Editing & Production), Jesse Brown (Editor and Publisher)

Fact checking by Julian Abraham

Additional music by Audio Network

Image by Saudi Press Agency

More information:

Saudi-led group completes $55bn purchase of gaming giant EA - BBC

Executions in Saudi Arabia hit highest number on record in 2025 - The Guardian

The Kingdom Came to Canada: How Saudi-Linked Digital Espionage Reached Canadian Soil - The Citizen Lab

After 25 years, I’m breaking up with The Sims. Here’s why you should, too | Jordan Erica Webber - The Guardian

Prime Minister Carney deepens partnership with Saudi Arabia across trade, education, technology, and critical minerals

The CFIUS Review That Will Never Be - Vinita Singh for Lawfare

Postponement Of Saudi Arabia’s Esports Nations Cup Heightens Concerns About Gulf Sport - Simon Chadwick

Canada strengthens guidelines on foreign investments in the interactive digital media sector

National security decisions | Investment Canada Act

The Gaming Industry: A Behemoth With Unprecedented Global Reach

Saudis Weigh Merging EA With Savvy to Create Global Gaming Giant

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