UAE Attorney-General Orders Arrest of 25 Individuals for Misleading Content on National Defence

Abu dhabi: UAE Attorney-General Dr. Hamad Saif Al Shamsi has ordered the arrest of 25 individuals of various nationalities, referring them for an expedited trial for publishing misleading content on digital platforms. The content in question is reported to harm national defence measures and glorify acts of military aggression against the State. According to Emirates News Agency, this decision comes after rigorous monitoring of digital platforms aimed at combating the spread of fabricated information and artificial content intended to incite public disorder and undermine general stability. Investigations and electronic monitoring revealed that the defendants were part of three groups, each committing distinct acts detrimental to national interests. The first group published and circulated authentic video clips documenting missile aggressions in the State's airspace or the resulting impact. These clips included commentary and sound effects suggesting active aggressions to incite public anxiety. Such actions r isk exposing defensive capabilities and allow hostile accounts to promote misleading narratives. The second group created and published fabricated visual content using artificial intelligence or recirculated footage from incidents outside the UAE, falsely claiming they occurred within the country. These clips often included synthetic scenes of explosions and missiles, using national flags or specific dates to lend credibility to false claims. The third group distributed content glorifying a hostile state, its political and military leadership, and its regional military aggressions. This included praising the leaders of that state and recirculating propaganda that serves hostile media discourse, thereby harming national interests. The Public Prosecution has begun investigations into the charges filed against the defendants and ordered their preventive detention pending further inquiries. The Attorney General emphasised that these actions constitute a grave violation of the law, necessitating enforcement of penal measures against those responsible. Such activities are said to mislead public opinion and incite social unrest. Moreover, the Attorney General stressed that exploiting cyberspace to spread misleading content and footage that harms public security or compromises the State's defensive capabilities is a criminal offence. He highlighted the importance of this issue given the military aggression currently faced by the State, stating that such behaviour will be met with firm legal action. He concluded by affirming that any individual proven to be involved in these acts will be referred to the judiciary to receive the prescribed legal penalty. This serves as a consequence for actions involving deception and exaggeration of facts without regard for the country's circumstances or security requirements.