‘Using AI to create clips’: UAE orders action against 19 Indians over misleading posts during Iran war

The United Arab Emirates, grappling with ongoing attacks from Tehran, on Sunday ordered the arrest of 35 people, including 19 Indians, for allegedly posting video clips on social media containing misleading and fabricated content using artificial intelligence amid rising regional tensions amid a war between Israel, the United States and Iran.The defendants have been transferred for a speedy trial, the United Arab Emirates’ official news agency WAM reported.Follow live updates on the Iran WarThe move comes as Iranian attacks continue to keep the UAE’s main cities of Dubai, Sharjah and the capital Abu Dhabi within its potential target range.Individuals of various nationalities are accused of taking videos of incoming missiles and drones, including their passage and interception, and spreading the videos online with comments and sound effects that authorities say caused panic and heightened public anxiety.Also read: Major fire breaks out at Dubai International Airport after drone attackThe latest list includes 25 people of different nationalities, including 17 Indians, listed in different categories. This is different from the previous case involving 10 people, including two Indians, who were named and ordered arrested on Saturday.According to a statement issued by Attorney General Hamad Seif Al Shamsi, the move follows intensive monitoring of digital platforms to curb the spread of false information and artificial content aimed at inciting public disorder and destabilizing.“The investigation and electronic surveillance revealed that the defendants fell into three groups and committed a variety of acts. These included publishing authentic clips related to current events, using artificial intelligence to falsify clips, and promoting acts of military aggression by the country while glorifying its leadership and military operations,” the statement said.The first group, made up of 10 defendants, allegedly published and disseminated actual video footage showing the passage and interception of missiles in the country’s airspace or the resulting impact. They also filmed gatherings of people watching these developments and added comments and sound effects that suggested aggressive aggression, which authorities said could incite public anxiety and panic.Officials say such videos could expose the country’s defense capabilities and enable hostile accounts to spread misleading narratives. The group included five Indians, one Pakistani, one Nepali, two Filipinos and one Egyptian.A second group shared fabricated visual content generated using artificial intelligence or looped footage from events outside the UAE, while falsely claiming that the events took place within the country. The clips depict composite scenes of explosions and missile strikes, often including flags or specific dates to make false claims appear credible.The group consists of seven people, including five Indians and one each from Nepal and Bangladesh.The third group, made up of six defendants, allegedly posted content that glorified hostile countries and their political and military leadership, portraying their regional military aggression as an achievement. Authorities said the posts praised the country’s leaders and amplified propaganda that harmed national interests.Five of the group’s six defendants are Indian and one is Pakistani.In addition, two other Indians face charges of similar crimes, the statement added.Earlier on Saturday, the UAE’s official news agency WAM reported that the public prosecution had begun questioning 10 defendants and ordered them to be remanded in custody.Attorney General Shamsi said such acts constitute a crime punishable by at least one year in prison and a fine of at least Dh100,000.“Such incidents are used to spread misinformation and deliberately mislead the public while undermining national security, order and stability,” he said.Shamsi added that some of the defendants circulated AI-generated videos that falsely suggested explosions, attacks on famous landmarks, or massive fires billowing smoke across the UAE.“These incidents also involved exploiting the emotions of children in videos that falsely suggested security threats. Other videos claimed that military installations in the country had been sabotaged or blamed foreign incidents within the UAE in an effort to mislead public opinion and spread anxiety,” he said.