Abu Dhabi (Rajeev Sharma)— The United Arab Emirates (UAE) authorities have ordered the arrest of 35 individuals including 19 Indian nationals—for disseminating misleading and AI-generated content on social media. The UAE’s official news agency, Wam, reported on Sunday, March 15, 2026, that the accused have been referred for an expedited trial as the nation tightens its digital security during the ongoing regional conflict involving the U.S., Israel, and Iran.
Attorney-General Dr. Hamad Saif Al Shamsi stated that the arrests followed “rigorous monitoring” of digital platforms aimed at curbing the spread of “synthetic scenes” designed to incite panic and undermine national stability. The defendants have been categorized into three distinct groups based on the nature of their social media activity:
The Three Groups of Accused
- Group 1: Documenting Military Activity (10 Individuals) This group, which includes five Indians, published authentic clips of missiles being intercepted in UAE airspace. However, the authorities allege they added sensationalized commentary and sound effects to suggest active, unprovoked aggressions, thereby risking the exposure of national defensive capabilities to hostile actors.
- Group 2: AI Fabrication & False Context (7 Individuals) Comprising five Indians and others from Nepal and Bangladesh, this group allegedly used AI to create “deepfake” videos of explosions and fires at prominent UAE landmarks. They also recirculated old footage from other countries, falsely claiming the events were currently happening within the UAE to mislead the public.
- Group 3: Glorifying Hostile Leadership (6 Individuals) This group consists of five Indians and one Pakistani national. They are accused of publishing content that “glorified” the military actions of a hostile state (presumably referring to Iran in the current context) and promoting its leadership as a way to serve “hostile media discourse.”
Legal Consequences and Warnings
Two additional Indian nationals face similar charges for related offenses. Attorney-General Al Shamsi emphasized that these acts are punishable under UAE law by a minimum of one year in prison and a fine of at least AED 100,000 (approx. ₹22.6 lakh).
The UAE government has issued a stern warning against “exploiting children’s emotions” in videos to imply security threats or claiming the destruction of military facilities. As regional tensions remain at an all-time high, the UAE is prioritizing the “Home Front” by strictly penalizing any digital activity that could be perceived as psychological warfare or a threat to national order.
