"Threat to National Security": U.S. Senators Concerned That a Saudi Fund Is Among EA's Buyers

The upcoming sale of Electronic Arts (EA) to a group of investors has attracted the attention of two American senators. Elizabeth Warren and Richard Blumenthal have expressed “deep concern” over the deal, particularly disturbed by the inclusion of Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund (PIF) the buyers.

The senators voiced their concerns in letters sent to U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent and EA’s CEO Andrew Wilson.

The senators suggest that PIF could wield significant influence over EA. For instance, theoretically, it could pressure the company and use its games for propaganda purposes. Furthermore, the fund would gain access to gamers’ personal data, potentially using it for its own objectives. Ultimately, Warren and Blumenthal write, this could bolster Saudi Arabian authorities’ position in the U.S. and pose a threat to national security.

Notably, PIF has been an EA investor for some time now. It currently owns 9.9% of the company’s shares. How much its stake will increase following the acquisition of EA remains unknown.

However, PIF is not the only entity the senators are unhappy with. They also disapprove of Affinity Partners, a company owned by Jared Kushner, the son-in-law of former U.S. President Donald Trump, being among the buyers of EA. Warren and Blumenthal believe that Affinity Partners is involved in the buyout solely to ensure smooth approval by regulators.

The senators have called on U.S. authorities to conduct a thorough investigation into the sale of EA, and have requested EA itself to provide Congress with more information about the deal.