Crime15 March, 20262 min read
UAE Arrests 25 Over Sharing Misleading Content Glorifying Aggression
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UAE arrests 25 individuals of diverse nationalities for misleading online content harming national security. Orders issued by Attorney General Dr Hamad Saif Al Shamsi and expedited trial.
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Mass Arrests Ordered
UAE authorities have arrested 25 individuals of various nationalities for spreading misleading and fabricated content online that poses threats to national security and defense efforts.
“Al Shamsi has ordered referring members of the three groups to an urgent trial and the Public Prosecution began its investigations and has ordered their remand in custody pending further investigation.”
Attorney-General Dr. Hamad Saif Al Shamsi ordered the arrests and referred the suspects to expedited trials following intensive monitoring of digital platforms.
The suspects, comprising men and women from India, Nepal, Egypt, Pakistan, Philippines, and Bangladesh, have been remanded in custody as investigations continue.
Al Shamsi emphasized that these actions constitute grave violations of the law and necessitate strict criminal measures due to their role in misleading public opinion and causing social unrest.
He noted that these offenses occurred particularly while the state faces military provocations.
Three Organized Groups
The arrested individuals have been organized into three distinct groups, each engaging in different types of harmful online activities. Group 1 consists of 12 members from multiple countries who shared authentic video clips of current events without proper context, inciting anxiety and panic among community members. Group 2 comprises seven men who used artificial intelligence techniques to create and distribute fabricated videos, including artificial scenes of explosions, fires, and missiles flying within UAE territory.
Group 3 involves six men who actively promoted a hostile state and glorified its political and military leadership. These individuals portrayed missile attacks as 'military achievements' and redistributed propaganda that harms national interests.
Content Fabrication Methods
The misleading content being shared includes sophisticated fabrications designed to appear credible and incite fear. Group 2 defendants created artificial scenes of explosions, fires, and rising smoke, while also fabricating footage of missiles flying or landing within UAE territory. These fabrications were enhanced by attaching names of different Emirates, national flags, or specific timestamps to lend false credibility to the claims.
“Artificial scenes of explosions, fires, and rising smoke. Footage of missiles flying or landing within UAE territory. Attaching names of different Emirates, national flags, or specific timestamps to lend false credibility to these claims, leading to public misinformation and widespread fear.”
Meanwhile, Group 3 defendants glorified hostile states by sharing clips and images praising their leaders and calling for solidarity with them. These actions effectively served as conduits for hostile media discourse that undermines UAE national interests during a period of regional military provocations.
National Security Concerns
The UAE Attorney-General has characterized these actions as grave violations of the law that require strict criminal measures due to their potential to compromise national defense and public security. Al Shamsi specifically highlighted that exploiting cyberspace to circulate misleading content that harms public security or compromises national defense—especially while the state faces military provocations—is considered a criminal act met with firm legal procedures. The authorities have emphasized that such activities risk the disclosure of defense capabilities and the analysis of interception patterns.
These risks make such activities particularly dangerous during ongoing regional tensions and military provocations. The prosecutions reflect the UAE's serious approach to countering information warfare and protecting national security interests.