Amid the current regional tension and war situation in the United Arab Emirates (UAE), strict action has been taken against those sharing false information on social media. Authorities have arrested 17 Indians and several others for spreading rumors and misleading videos. Along with this, the Indian Embassy has also issued a strict advisory for its citizens so that they can avoid getting into any legal trouble there.
What is the whole matter and the action of the police?
UAE Attorney-General Dr. Hamad Saif Al Shamsi has ordered the immediate prosecution of 10 people. These people are accused of using Artificial Intelligence (AI) to create fake videos of explosions and fires and shared them on social media. In the last 48 hours alone, 45 people have been detained for videography of sensitive places in Abu Dhabi and 21 people have been detained for sharing videos of mid-air missile interception in Dubai. 17 Indians are also involved in this entire action who have been found violating cyber rules.
Rule of fine, jail and deportation
The law of 2021 is in force in UAE to stop rumors and cyber crime. According to legal experts, this rule fully applies not only to those who make videos, but also to those who share, repost or comment on them. There are very strict provisions for punishment in this:
Fine: A fine of at least 100,000 dirhams (about Rs 22.6 lakh) will be imposed, which can go up to 500,000 dirhams depending on the offence.
Jail sentence: There is a minimum jail term of one year. In times of war or disaster, this punishment becomes at least two years.
Deportation: Foreign nationals will be compulsorily deported back to their country after completion of their sentence.
Urgent appeal of Indian Embassy
The Indian Embassy in Abu Dhabi has issued an important message for the Indians working there. The Embassy has clearly said that people should avoid sharing photos and videos of any kind of military movement, interior of the airport or any attack site on social media. Authorities have appealed to the public to only trust news from official government agencies such as WAM, MoI or NCEMA. At present, the situation in UAE is completely normal and life is going on without any problem.