UAE orders arrest of 35, including 19 Indians, over AI-made fake missile videos amid Israel-Iran war

Dubai: Authorities in the United Arab Emirates have ordered the arrest of 35 individuals, including 19 Indians, for allegedly publishing misleading and fabricated videos on social media amid heightened regional tensions linked to the Middle East conflict involving Israel, Iran and the United States.

The country’s official news agency Emirates News Agency reported on Sunday that those accused have been referred for an expedited trial following investigations by prosecutors.

According to a statement from UAE Attorney-General Hamad Saif Al Shamsi, authorities intensified monitoring of digital platforms to curb the spread of fabricated content and artificial intelligence-generated material that could incite public panic and undermine national stability.

Three groups identified

Investigations found that the suspects were divided into three groups accused of carrying out different activities online.

The first group of 10 individuals allegedly circulated authentic video clips showing missiles passing through or being intercepted over UAE airspace. They also filmed crowds watching such events and added commentary and sound effects implying active attacks in an attempt to spread panic. Authorities said this group included five Indians, along with nationals from Pakistan, Nepal, Philippines and Egypt.

Officials warned that sharing such footage could reveal defensive capabilities and allow hostile actors to spread misleading narratives.

A second group of seven suspects was accused of publishing fabricated visual content generated using artificial intelligence or recirculating footage from incidents abroad while falsely claiming they occurred in the UAE. These clips included staged scenes of explosions and missile strikes, often accompanied by national flags or specific dates to make the false claims appear credible. The group includes five Indians and one national each from Nepal and Bangladesh.

The third group, consisting of six individuals, allegedly shared content praising a hostile state and its political and military leadership, portraying its regional military actions as achievements and circulating propaganda aligned with hostile media narratives. Five members of this group are Indians and one is Pakistani.

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Earlier arrests and legal action

Two additional individuals, both Indian nationals, are also facing charges related to similar offences, authorities said.

The announcement follows an earlier report on Saturday that prosecutors had begun questioning 10 suspects and ordered them to remain in custody pending investigation.

Shamsi said the acts are punishable under UAE law with imprisonment of at least one year and a fine of no less than 100,000 dirhams.

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He added that fabricated videos had falsely depicted explosions, attacks on prominent landmarks and large fires across various locations in the UAE. Some clips also exploited children’s emotions by implying security threats, while others falsely claimed the destruction of military facilities or misrepresented foreign incidents as having occurred inside the country.

Authorities warned that such misinformation could mislead the public, fuel anxiety and undermine national security and stability.

(PTI)