The Public Prosecutor orders the arrest of 10 defendants and refers them to urgent trial for publishing clips on digital platforms

Abu Dhabi, 14 March / WAM / As part of the follow-up and monitoring of what is circulating through social media and digital platforms, and in light of the events the region is witnessing that are being exploited to broadcast misleading information and artificial content that involves deliberate deception and aims to undermine public security and disrupt order and stability, Counselor Dr. Hamad Saif Al Shamsi, the Attorney General of the State, ordered the arrest of (10) defendants of different nationalities.

This came against the backdrop of their publishing video clips that included real scenes of air defenses responding to attacks and their effects, or clips showing projectiles on the ground or gatherings of people to follow events, in addition to publishing other artificial and false clips created using artificial intelligence techniques that suggest the occurrence of attacks or explosions within the country, or the targeting of prominent landmarks in it, or the outbreak of widespread fires and columns of smoke rising in various areas of it, in contrast to the truth.

The incidents also included exploiting children’s feelings in video clips suggesting that security events were taking place inside the country, contrary to the truth, in addition to publishing clips claiming the destruction of military facilities or bases inside the country, and attributing video clips of events that occurred outside the country as having occurred inside it, which would mislead public opinion and incite fear and anxiety among members of society.

Publishing these clips, whether real or fabricated, would have affected public security and caused confusion, as well as providing the hostile media with materials that could be exploited to distort the facts and undermine confidence in the competent authorities, and would have exposed some defensive capabilities.

The Public Prosecution began investigating the defendants regarding the incidents attributed to them, and ordered their provisional detention.

The Public Prosecutor explained that these acts constitute crimes punishable by law with imprisonment for a period of not less than one year and a fine of not less than (100,000) one hundred thousand dirhams, because they involve deliberate misleading, an attack on public security, spreading terror in the souls of individuals, and undermining societal peace.

The Public Prosecutor affirmed that the Public Prosecution will not be lenient in prosecuting anyone who exploits cyberspace or modern technologies to spread misleading information or artificial content that harms state security or disturbs the peace of society, or circulates clips that show the state’s defenses responding to these attacks and the effects that their publication may have that affect security and the public interest, stressing that anyone proven to be involved in such acts will be subject to immediate criminal accountability, and that the competent authorities will continue to monitor and follow up on these practices and take legal measures. Firm against the perpetrators.

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