KATHMANDU: Authorities in the United Arab Emirates have arrested 35 people, including one Nepali and 19 Indians, for allegedly posting misleading and fabricated content on social media.
According to the Press Trust of India, the crackdown comes amid rising tensions in West Asia due to the ongoing conflict involving the United States and Israel.
UAE Attorney General Hamad Saif Al Shamsi on Sunday ordered the arrest of 25 individuals of various nationalities, including Nepali and Indian nationals, and directed that they be presented before court for fast-track hearings. The latest list includes 17 Indians. Earlier on Saturday, arrest orders had been issued for 10 individuals, including two Indians.
Authorities had earlier warned residents and workers in the country not to film videos of attack sites, share footage of intercepted missiles, or spread unverified information online.
According to the Emirates News Agency (WAM), the accused were involved in three different types of activities.
Ten individuals allegedly posted real videos of missiles passing through the country’s airspace or being intercepted. Authorities said they also added commentary and sound effects to crowd scenes at the locations to make it appear as though an active attack was underway. The group includes five Indians, one Pakistani, one Nepali, two Filipinos and one Egyptian.
Seven individuals are accused of posting fabricated videos created using artificial intelligence or sharing footage of incidents that occurred abroad while falsely claiming they had taken place in the UAE. This group includes five Indians, one Nepali and one Bangladeshi.
Six individuals allegedly posted messages praising the political and military leadership of a “hostile” nation. This group includes five Indians and one Pakistani.
Authorities said such activities are considered criminal offenses under UAE law. If convicted, those involved could face at least one year in prison and a minimum fine of 100,000 dirhams.
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