Forty-five people from various nationalities are in custody after Abu Dhabi Police determined they had filmed undisclosed locations and circulated footage on social media during the current period of heightened security activity.
Beyond the recordings, those detained face accusations of spreading false and misleading content — material authorities say risks inflaming public sentiment and fuelling rumour.
Police have confirmed that legal and administrative action has already been taken against all accused individuals, describing the arrests as part of a sustained security monitoring effort targeting misuse of social media platforms.
Residents are being urged to rely exclusively on officially approved channels for information and to avoid filming or sharing any footage linked to incident sites or ongoing operations. Authorities warned that republishing unverified content from unofficial sources carries legal consequences and can directly compromise active security operations.
Abu Dhabi Police made clear that surveillance of social media content is continuous and that further legal action will follow against any additional violations.
The statement framed community cooperation as essential, describing public awareness as integral to preserving security and stability.
