New Delhi: The United Arab Emirates (UAE) government has ordered the arrest of 35 people, most of them Indians, for allegedly posting false and provocative videos on social media. The development comes amid heightened hostilities in the Middle East, with Iran targeting US and Israeli interests in the region.
The UAE government has already banned the sharing of videos related to Iranian drones and missile attacks on social media.
According to the UAE’s official news agency WAM, Attorney General Dr Hamad Saif Al Shamsi ordered the arrests after the accused were found to have shared video clips containing misleading and fabricated information. Authorities said that the posts were intended to spread fear among the public and threaten the country’s stability.
Citizens from Pakistan, Bangladesh, Nepal also on list
The action has come in two parts. On Saturday, authorities released the names of 10 people, including two Indians. On Sunday, another list of 25 names was issued, which included 17 Indians. In total, 19 Indians have been implicated. Others include those from Pakistan, Nepal, Bangladesh, the Philippines and Egypt.
Authorities have divided the accused into three groups based on the nature of the offences.
“Investigations and electronic monitoring revealed that the defendants were divided into three groups that committed various acts. These included the publication of real clips related to current events, the fabrication of clips using AI, and the promotion of a state practising acts of military aggression while glorifying its leadership and military actions,” Al Shamsi said in a statement.
Accused divided into three groups
The first group consisting 10 people, including five Indians, are accused of manipulating real videos. One Pakistani, one Nepali, two Filipinos and one Egyptian are also on the accused list.
They are accused of sharing real videos of strikes but adding their own audio and commentary to make it appear as though fresh attacks had just occurred. Authorities have said that this has been done allegedly to create panic among people.
The second group of seven people, five Indians, one Nepali and one Bangladeshi, are accused of using artificial intelligence to create fabricated videos showing explosions and missile strikes in the UAE.
The clips allegedly feature the UAE flag and specific dates in an attempt to make them appear authentic.
The third group is accused of praising a hostile country. It comprises six people, five Indians and one Pakistani. They are accused of praising leaders and the military of a hostile country, Iran in this case, and portraying its attacks as a major achievement.
The authorities say that this goes against the UAE’s national interests.
Accused faces jail term, heavy fine
The Attorney General said these offences are serious and punishable under the law with a minimum of one year in prison and a fine of up to 100,000 dirhams (around Rs 22 lakh). All the accused have been referred to court for expedited trial.
“Such events have been exploited to disseminate misinformation intended to deliberately mislead the public while undermining national security, order and stability,” he said.
Meanwhile, countries in the region continue reporting new attacks from Iran on Monday. A drone attack near Dubai airport has paralysed services there. Iran has called for the evacuation of three major ports in UAE. Tehran accused the United States of using “ports, docks and hideouts” in the UAE to launch strikes on Kharg Island.