UAE has arrested 35 people, including 19 Indians, for spreading misleading and AI-generated videos on social media amid the Israel-Iran war. Officials say that these videos could spread fear among the people and affect national security.
Iran-Israel War Latest News: The United Arab Emirates (UAE) has taken strict action against misinformation being spread on social media amid rising tensions between Israel, America and Iran. The UAE has arrested 35 people, including 19 Indian nationals, for allegedly posting misleading and fabricated video clips on social media platforms. According to officials, investigation revealed that these people used digital platforms to spread doctored videos and false stories related to regional tensions. Now preparations are being made to prosecute these cases expeditiously.
Who were arrested?
UAE officials said that this action has been taken in two phases. The latest list includes names of 25 people, of which 17 are Indian citizens. Different types of allegations have been made against them. This list is separate from the 10 people who were ordered arrested earlier on Saturday. That first group also included two Indian citizens. Thus, a total of 35 people were arrested in this case, which includes citizens of different countries.
What is the reason for the arrest?
According to the UAE government, these people had posted misleading and fabricated video clips related to the Israel-Iran war on social media platforms. UAE Attorney General Hamad Saif Al Shamsi said that this action was taken after strict monitoring of digital platforms. According to him, some people were using AI-generated content and edited videos to spread information that could incite the public and harm regional stability.
The accused were working in three different groups
According to UAE government news agency WAM, investigation revealed that the accused were working in three different groups and each group had different work.
First group: Posted original video clips
Among these, one group used to tamper with the original video clips through AI. The first group included 10 accused, including 5 Indians, 1 Pakistani, 1 Nepalese, 2 Filipinos and 1 Egyptian national. These people posted real video clips of missiles passing or being intercepted in UAE airspace. But later by adding commentary and sound effects in these videos, an atmosphere was created as if the country was under attack. Officials say its aim was to spread fear and panic among the people. Besides, such footage could also reveal information related to the country’s defense capabilities, which could benefit opposing elements.
Second group: Fake videos made with AI
The second group included 7 people, including 5 Indians, 1 Nepali and 1 Bangladeshi citizen. This group is accused of creating fake videos and pictures with the help of AI. In some cases they used footage of incidents in other countries and claimed that the incidents took place inside the UAE. These videos often included explosions, missile attacks, national flags and dates in an attempt to make them look more credible.
Third group: Accused of propagandizing Iran
The third group included 6 people, which included 5 Indians and 1 Pakistani citizen. They are accused of posting material on social media that praised Iran and its political and military leadership. Additionally, these posts portrayed Iran’s regional military operations as successes and advanced propaganda that reinforced the opposing media narrative.
Accusations were also made against 2 other Indians
Apart from this, two Indian citizens have also been charged with similar crimes. A WAM report on Saturday said the Public Prosecution has initiated legal action against the 10 accused after questioning them and remanding them into custody. According to the Attorney General, these people spread AI-generated fake footage, which claimed that there were explosions in many areas of UAE, attacks on large buildings, fire and smoke rising.
What can be the punishment for such a crime in UAE?
In UAE, such activities are considered serious crimes under the law. If found guilty in such cases, a minimum of 1 year in jail and a fine of AED 1,00,000 (approximately Rs 25 lakh) can be imposed. Attorney General Al Shamsi said that these videos were used deliberately to mislead the public and harm national security. He also said that in some cases, videos were found in which false security threats were shown using the emotions of children.
What is the current situation in UAE?
Meanwhile, reports of new attacks have emerged in Gulf countries, including UAE. The development came as Iran demanded the evacuation of three major UAE ports. This was the first time a neighboring country issued such a threat to non-US assets. Tehran alleges that the US attacked Kharg Island using ports and military bases in the UAE. Kharg Island is Iran’s main oil export terminal. However, Iran has not presented any concrete evidence to support its allegations.
Drone incident near Dubai Airport
An incident of fire also came to light near Dubai International Airport on Monday. It was reported that during a drone-related incident, a fuel tank in the area was targeted, causing a fire. Dubai Civil Defense teams immediately reached the spot and brought the fire under control. According to officials, there is no news of anyone being injured in this incident, but due to security reasons many airlines had to cancel their flights.