People in Bahrain are being warned against engaging with deceptive posts and links on social media designed to incite fear and cause panic.
The General Directorate of Anti‑Corruption and Economic and Electronic Security has identified a surge in misleading content circulating online, including fabricated videos and images generated using artificial intelligence (AI), and cautioned that such material is being deliberately used to sow confusion and manipulate public opinion.
Officials stressed that these orchestrated campaigns are being driven by individuals abroad who are seeking to exploit current circumstances to provoke unrest within the country.
They urged users to ensure that they only receive their information from reliable and verified sources.
“Do not be misled by certain videos or images circulating on social media as they have been created by artificial intelligence (AI), and potentially from other countries,” the directorate said in a statement.
“They are falsely attributed to Bahrain and aimed to cause panic and confusion and mislead public opinion.”
Meanwhile, the directorate also called on citizens and residents to exercise caution when receiving suspicious text messages, particularly from unverified numbers.
They explained that a new scam is circulating in which individuals are falsely warned that their credit card details stored on food delivery applications have been compromised.
“Avoid sharing messages claiming that food delivery applications are storing your bank card details and that you are required to remove your cards immediately to avoid being hacked,” the directorate said.
“These messages are false and misleading.”
The directorate had earlier warned that fraudsters were impersonating Interior Ministry officials and contacting individuals to ‘confirm’ whether they have received national alerts, as reported in the GDN.
Scammers request personal details, including full name, CPR number, and other sensitive information, with the intent of defrauding victims and exploiting their vulnerabilities.
The Interior Ministry has now urged people not to disclose any information in order to safeguard their personal accounts from theft.
A reminder was also sent to people that those who publish any news, information, images or videos with the intention of causing panic or harming military preparedness will face legal action and up to 10 years in prison.
Those who have been victims of such scams or come across any AI-generated image or video of Bahrain aimed at causing panic are being encouraged to contact the directorate immediately by calling the 992 hotline.
Bahrain is stepping up efforts to strengthen safeguards against electronic fraud amid increasingly sophisticated cybercrime threats.
Parliament and Shura Council Affairs Minister Ghanim Al Buainain earlier said that authorities were implementing integrated policies combining awareness campaigns, regulatory measures and institutional co-ordination to strengthen protection against evolving cyber threats and preserve trust in the kingdom’s digital environment.
He added that extensive awareness campaigns had been rolled out across websites, social media platforms, television and radio, delivering guidance in multiple languages to reach all segments of society.
nader@gdnmedia.bh
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