The Philippine Embassy in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and the Philippine Consulate General in Dubai said Sunday they are investigating reports that Filipino nationals may be among those detained for posting or sharing online content related to recent attacks and air defense interceptions in Dubai.
In an advisory, the embassy said it has sought official confirmation and further details from the competent UAE authorities regarding the identity, status, and legal circumstances of any Filipino nationals involved.
“The Philippine Embassy and Consulate General fully respect the sovereignty of the United Arab Emirates and its right to enforce its national security, cybercrime, and public order laws,” the advisory read.
“UAE authorities have publicly reminded the public that publishing or sharing misleading or fabricated security‑related content, including videos of air defense interceptions, attacks on landmarks, or AI‑generated false footage, is a criminal offense punishable by imprisonment and substantial fines.”
This statement comes in response to a local news outlet report that authorities had arrested 10 people of various nationalities for allegedly distributing misleading and fabricated footage of intercepted attacks and landmark strikes on social media.
The report indicated that among the nationalities arrested include an Egyptian, a Filipino, a Vietnamese, a Pakistani, an Iranian, a Bangladeshi, a Cameroonian, a Nepalese and two Indians.
The embassy also cautioned Filipinos in the UAE to exercise utmost caution and responsibility in their use of social media and messaging platforms.
“Filipinos are advised to refrain from recording, posting, forwarding, or commenting on unverified or sensitive security‑related content; to avoid spreading rumors or speculative information and to rely only on official announcements of UAE authorities and credible news sources for information on ongoing security situations,” the embassy said.
It also assured continued coordination with local authorities and called on the Filipino community to strictly adhere to local laws, customs, and security protocols established for everyone’s safety in the UAE.
Under UAE law, such acts are considered crimes and can result in imprisonment for at least one year and a fine of no less than Dh100,000, citing deliberate spread of misinformation, threats to public security, spreading fear, and undermining social stability.
