UAE authorities ordered the arrest of 35 people, including 19 Indians, on March 15, 2026, for posting fabricated social media videos amid the US-Iran war, aiming to curb panic and disinformation.
Categories of Offenses
Three groups identified: 12 individuals (8 Indians, 3 Pakistanis, 1 Nepali) shared real footage from other conflicts falsely claiming UAE strikes; 7 (5 Indians, 1 Nepali, 1 Bangladeshi) used AI to create explosion/missile clips with UAE flags/dates; 6 praised hostile leadership or spread propaganda.
Legal Consequences
Offenders face expedited trials with minimum 1-year imprisonment and AED 100,000 (~₹22 lakh) fines under UAE cybercrime laws. Attorney-General Dr. Hamad Saif Al Shams cited platform monitoring to protect stability.
War Context
Actions follow Iranian drone/missile hits on Dubai/Abu Dhabi; UAE intercepted dozens while maintaining normalcy for 9 million residents, including 3.5 million Indians.
