Authorities in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) have detained 45 individuals, including 19 Indian nationals, for circulating social media videos related to military conflicts in the Middle East and the domestic security situation. According to Operative Information Center-OMM, the arrests follow the dissemination of materials that officials claim could destabilize the country.
The group of detainees includes UAE citizens as well as nationals from Egypt, Nepal, Pakistan, and the Philippines. They face charges for sharing footage allegedly showing the interception of missiles over UAE territory, images of destruction and fires resulting from attacks, and scenes depicting public panic. The UAE Prosecutor's Office stated that the suspects distributed both authentic footage and fake content created using artificial intelligence (AI). Furthermore, the accused are charged with promoting the interests of a state committing military aggression and praising its leadership and military operations.
UAE Attorney General Hamad Saif Al Shamsi confirmed that interrogations of the detainees are ongoing. He noted that those found guilty face up to one year in prison and fines starting from 100,000 dirhams (approximately $27,200). The UAE maintains strict cybercrime laws designed to prevent the spread of misinformation and rumors that threaten national security or public order. This incident underscores the regional sensitivity to the ongoing geopolitical tensions in the Middle East and the increasing role of digital surveillance in maintaining internal stability within the Gulf states.
