UAE Attorney General Dr. Hamad Saif Al Shamsi ordered the arrest of 10 defendants of various nationalities. The defendants were referred to an emergency court for publishing video clips containing misleading and fabricated content on social media platforms.
This action follows continued monitoring of digital platforms amid developments in the region. Such events have been exploited to spread misinformation aimed at deliberately misleading the public while undermining national security, order and stability.
An investigation revealed that the defendants had released a video featuring actual footage of air defense systems intercepting the attack. Other clips depicted projectiles on the ground and crowds observing the event. It also circulated fake videos created using artificial intelligence (AI) that falsely suggested explosions, attacks on prominent landmarks, and large fires with smoke billowing from various parts of the UAE.
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The incident also involved exploiting a child’s emotions with a video that falsely implied a safety threat. Other videos aimed to mislead public opinion and spread fear by claiming that military facilities in the country had been destroyed or by attributing incidents abroad to UAE-based locations.
According to information released by authorities, the above list of defendants includes Egyptians, Filipinos, Vietnamese, Pakistanis, Iranians, Bangladeshis, Cameroonians, Nepalese and two Indians.
Publishing such clips, whether real or fabricated, can affect public security and cause confusion, in addition to distorting facts, undermining confidence in competent authorities, and providing hostile media with material that may reveal aspects of the country’s defense capabilities.
The prosecution began questioning the defendants and ordered their remand into custody.
The Attorney General explained that such acts constitute a crime punishable by law with imprisonment for a term of not less than one year and a fine of not less than 100,000 dirhams, due to the deliberate dissemination of false information, the threat to security, the spread of fear among individuals, and the violation of social stability.
The Attorney General asserted that the Prosecutor General’s Office will not tolerate any attempt to misuse cyberspace or modern technology to spread misleading information or fabricated content that affects national security or disrupts public order. This also includes the circulation of clips showing the interception of attacks by national defense systems and the possible consequences of their publication.
He stressed that those found to be involved in such acts will face immediate criminal charges, noting that competent authorities will continue to monitor such acts and take firm legal action against those responsible.
