Noura Al Kaabi, UAE Minister of State, said the country faced two simultaneous challenges during the Iranian attacks: physical attacks on the ground and a widespread wave of fake news, disinformation and AI-generated content online.

Speaking at the “Media and Diplomacy in a Changing World” session at the Arab Media Summit, she stressed that responding swiftly, assessing information and maintaining credibility must all be prioritised in such circumstances.

Disinformation as a security threat

Al Kaabi said the spread of artificial intelligence tools had accelerated the creation and distribution of fake content while making it more difficult to counter. She said tackling disinformation was no longer merely a communications issue and could become a matter of security.

She described the long-term credibility of governments and media organisations as one of the most important tools for combating fake news, urging the public to verify the source of any claim before accepting or sharing it.

According to Al Kaabi, the first question people should ask when encountering any news report is: “Where did this information come from?” This is particularly important when reports originate from anonymous accounts or unfamiliar websites.

The role of youth in the new media landscape

Al Kaabi also highlighted the role of younger generations in shaping regional narratives, saying their familiarity with technology and artificial intelligence was a significant advantage.

She said policymakers and older generations should listen more closely to young people. However, she also warned young people not to let fleeting political or social emotions shape everything they post online, as their digital footprint could remain for years.

Diplomacy beyond traditional channels

Al Kaabi said diplomacy today was no longer confined to formal relations between governments, adding that media, culture, technology and those who convey a country’s narrative were also part of it.

She also stressed that communication methods must be tailored to each platform, as a message that is effective on X may not necessarily have the same impact on Instagram or TikTok.