Abu Dhabi Police have detained 109 people from different nationalities for filming restricted sites and spreading inaccurate information online, as UAE authorities intensify enforcement against social media misuse during the ongoing regional conflict.
The arrests are part of a broader crackdown that spans multiple agencies. The Criminal Investigation Directorate separately held 45 individuals last week for filming locations and circulating misleading content, while 35 others were arrested over the weekend under the direction of the UAE Attorney-General for posting videos and images tied to Iranian aggression.
UAE Attorney-General Dr. Hamad Saif Al Shamsi also ordered the arrest of 10 defendants accused of publishing fabricated clips — a mix of real footage and AI-generated material — during the period of heightened tensions.
Authorities have described the conduct as a direct threat to community security and a disruption to official procedures, stressing that filming and circulating event-related content runs afoul of existing laws and regulations.
The public has been advised to source information exclusively from official channels and to avoid recording or sharing content connected to ongoing events. Officials framed the directive as necessary to protect both the integrity of security operations and the broader public interest.
Legal and administrative measures have been applied to those detained, with authorities signalling that monitoring of social media violations remains active.
