The United Arab Emirates (UAE) has issued warrants for the arrest of 35 individuals, 19 of whom are Indian nationals, for allegedly posting false or misleading video material on social media platforms that relates to the current regional tensions escalating from the ongoing conflict between the US and Iran.
According to WAM, the official news agency of the UAE, all of these individuals have been referred for expedited trial proceedings.
The new list contains 25 names from multiple countries, including 17 Indians, and is separate from the 10 individuals (two of whom also happen to be Indian nationals) who were the first to be charged with misleading the public by posting materials before Sunday.
As per the office of His Excellency Dr Hamad Saif Al Shams, the Attorney-General of the UAE, this action was the result of ongoing vigilance on all electronic communications to prevent or slow down the dissemination of false or fabricated information, as well as artificial information intended to incite disorder and promote a lack of stability.
“Investigations and electronic monitoring revealed that the defendants were divided into three groups that committed various acts. These included the publication of real clips related to current events, the fabrication of clips using AI, and the promotion of a state practising acts of military aggression while glorifying its leadership and military actions,” PTI quoted Dr Hamad Saif Al Shams’s statement.
Group I: 10 Defendants published and distributed actual video clips that recorded the flight path of missiles as they approached and impacted targets within [country]. They also filmed small groups of individuals watching these events and added commentaries and sound effects that suggested that missiles were continuing to be fired (ie, creating public concern and panic).
This group is comprised of: 5 Indians; 1 Pakistani; 1 Nepali; 2 Filipinos; and 1 Egyptian.
Group II: Defendants distributed images created through artificial intelligence (AI), or previously distributed images of war events occurring outside of the country, while falsely claiming that those same images were taken in the country.
The group is comprised of: 5 Indians, 1 Nepali, and 1 Bangladeshi.
Group III: 6 Defendants. Published items that glorified a hostile state and its leadership; praised a hostile state's leaders, recirculated propaganda items that supported hostile media discussions, and thereby undermined national interests and safety.
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According to this announcement, five of the six defendants are citizens of India, and one is from Pakistan. Two other individuals are Indian citizens who have been charged with the same type of crime as these ten.
On Saturday, according to a statement made by the Public Prosecution Director, the 10 people involved in this case have all been arrested and are currently being interrogated. The Director of Public Prosecution also explained that it violates UAE law and carries the possibility of jail time or fines for a minimum of 1 year in jail and 1,08,000 AED.
“Such events have been exploited to disseminate misinformation intended to deliberately mislead the public while undermining national security, order and stability,” he said.