25 People, Including 2 Nepali, Arrested for Posting Misleading Missile Strike Video in UAE
चैत ४, २०८२ १६:५९
Kathmandu. The government of the United Arab Emirates (UAE) has arrested 25 people from various countries, including 2 Nepali nationals, on charges of undermining national security and posting misleading content on social media. Hamad Saif Al Shamsi, the UAE Attorney General, has ordered prosecutors to try those arrested through a “fast-track” trial.
The accused reportedly engaged in actions that could harm the state's defense system and escalate security threats. According to the Gulf News, the UAE took this tough step while monitoring activities aimed at creating public unrest and weakening the country's stability through fake and AI-generated content.
Previously, the UAE had arrested 10 individuals for circulating fake AI-generated videos related to missile incidents and threatening national security. A Nepali national was also among those arrested.
Investigation and electronic surveillance revealed that the accused were divided into three different groups and engaged in different activities. The first group falsely claimed that missile attacks had occurred in UAE airspace and shared real video clips showing interceptions in the sky.
They recorded videos of people reacting to such incidents and added sound effects and text to amplify fear and anxiety. The UAE government believes such content could expose the country's defense capabilities and help adversaries create misleading narratives. One Nepali national is also among those involved in spreading such videos.
Similarly, the second group had created fake videos using AI and made them go viral by falsely claiming that the incidents from outside the UAE had occurred within the country. To mislead the public, those videos included fabricated explosions, missile visuals, national symbols, and specific dates. This group included one Nepali, five Indians, and one Bangladeshi national.
The third group posted content that exaggerated the capabilities of states hostile to the UAE and its political and military leadership. They have spread propaganda against the national interest of the UAE by praising the leaders of the adversarial states and promoting their regional military attacks as “achievements,’ The Gulf News reported.
The government attorney’s office has ordered the accused to be held in custody until further investigation. Attorney General Al Shamsi stated that these acts violated the law, misled public opinion, and caused public unrest, adding that the offenders would face disciplinary action.
He has made it clear that misusing cyberspace to spread misleading content that could compromise public security or the national defense is a serious criminal offense. Considering the current security situation, he warned that such actions would be dealt with strictly under the law.
The UAE government has made it clear that anyone who distorts facts and spreads misinformation while ignoring the country's security sensitivity will face legal action and punishment.
पछिल्लो अध्यावधिक: चैत ४, २०८२ १६:५९
