UAE Orders Arrest of 35, Including 19 Indians, Over AI-Generated War Misinformation

The United Arab Emirates has detained 35 individuals, including 19 Indian nationals, for allegedly spreading fabricated war-related content on social media amid escalating regional tensions surrounding the Israel-US-Iran conflict.

According to the Emirates News Agency (WAM), authorities have referred the accused for expedited trials after discovering numerous video clips circulating online that had been manipulated to misrepresent events taking place within the country. Prosecutors allege these individuals used artificial intelligence tools to create or alter footage in ways that could provoke public panic.

The arrests come at a particularly sensitive time for the UAE, as Iranian missile and drone capabilities continue to place major population centers like Dubai, Sharjah, and Abu Dhabi within potential striking range. Regional security experts note this represents one of the most significant crackdowns on social media misinformation in the Gulf nation’s recent history.

UAE Attorney General Hamad Saif Al Shamsi said in an official statement that the arrests resulted from extensive digital monitoring operations designed to combat the proliferation of misinformation that could threaten public order or national security. Intelligence agencies had reportedly been tracking suspicious content across multiple platforms for several weeks before moving to detain suspects.

Investigators have categorized the accused into three distinct groups based on the nature of their alleged digital activities. The first group allegedly shared authentic footage of missile or drone interceptions in UAE airspace but added misleading commentary and dramatic sound effects that authorities claim exaggerated the threat level. Security officials expressed particular concern that such content could inadvertently reveal critical information about the country’s defense systems or provide material for hostile actors to manipulate.

“Even sharing genuine footage with inflammatory commentary represents a security risk in the current climate,” said a regional security analyst familiar with the case. “The UAE, like many Gulf states, is particularly sensitive to content that could undermine public confidence or reveal defense capabilities.”

The second group faces more serious accusations of deliberately creating fabricated videos using artificial intelligence or repurposing footage from conflicts in other regions while falsely claiming the incidents occurred within the UAE. These manipulated videos reportedly depicted explosions, missile strikes, and large-scale fires, often incorporating UAE national symbols or specific time stamps to enhance their perceived authenticity.

The third category of suspects allegedly posted content praising a hostile foreign state – presumably Iran, though officials did not explicitly name the country – and portraying its military operations in the region as achievements. Authorities claim these individuals glorified foreign political and military leaders while advancing narratives deemed harmful to UAE national interests and security.

This latest operation follows a previous case in which authorities detained 10 other suspects, including two Indian nationals, on similar charges. With these new arrests, the total number of individuals facing prosecution has risen to 35.

The Attorney General emphasized the severity of the charges, noting that convictions carry minimum penalties of one-year imprisonment alongside fines starting at AED 100,000 (approximately $27,000). Al Shamsi revealed that investigators had uncovered videos falsely depicting explosions at prominent landmarks, destruction of military facilities, and widespread fires throughout the country.

Some of the most concerning content allegedly featured emotional scenes of children or crowds reacting to fabricated security threats, apparently designed to maximize public anxiety and emotional response.

The UAE’s strict approach reflects broader concerns across Gulf states about information security during a period of heightened regional tensions. The country has invested heavily in cybersecurity infrastructure in recent years as digital misinformation has become increasingly recognized as a national security concern.

Digital rights advocates, while acknowledging legitimate security concerns, have called for transparency in the legal proceedings to ensure that legitimate expression is not being suppressed under the guise of security operations.