The Ministry of Interior coordinated with the Kuwaiti Army, National Guard, National Cybersecurity Center and Communication and Information Technology Regulatory Authority to track AI-generated misleading material, Lt. Col. Saud Al-Wazzan, head of the Cybercrime Department, told KUNA. During the initial 48 hours of the recent regional crisis triggered by Iranian attacks, authorities identified approximately 200 violations that featured fabricated images of weapons, military installations and sensitive sites. Legal proceedings were initiated against the perpetrators while the content was promptly removed to protect public security and maintain stability, according to Al-Wazzan.
Multilingual awareness campaigns targeting both citizens and residents were rolled out to discourage harmful online practices and encourage responsible digital conduct, the cybercrime department head stated. Government bodies are simultaneously developing governance structures for artificial intelligence that promote its secure application, safeguard personal privacy and guarantee the integrity of official data. These measures reflect a broader push to fortify Kuwait’s information environment amid rapid technological change.
An integrated approach combining public education, journalist preparation and revised laws is essential to counter misinformation, Dr. Ahmad Al-Shallal, head of the Media and Mass Communication Department at Gulf University for Science and Technology, told KUNA. Legislation must be updated to criminalise the production and circulation of fabricated AI material when it endangers national security, he added. Such legal enhancements would strengthen deterrence and foster greater accountability in digital spaces.
The Ministry of Information follows rigorous verification protocols that rely exclusively on official and credible outlets while continuously scanning global wire services and online platforms, its Director General of News Lafi Al-Subaie said. Training programmes equip reporters to navigate an environment in which artificial intelligence can accelerate data processing and reporting yet demands robust ethical standards to uphold credibility. The ministry conducts targeted campaigns and educational initiatives to alert the public to the dangers of deepfakes and false narratives.
Deepfake tools rank among the foremost threats to contemporary media through their ability to manufacture convincing audio and video material that can impersonate officials or spread disinformation, experts cited by KUNA warned. Voice-cloning techniques have grown sophisticated enough to facilitate fraud, including attempts to extract sensitive information by mimicking public figures. Fabricated stories can distort perceptions, heighten public anxiety and serve as instruments in information warfare aimed at eroding confidence in state institutions.
A Microsoft assessment from 2023 documented Iranian-aligned groups deploying AI to generate disinformation during regional conflicts, often through fake personas and manipulated media. The Institute for Strategic Dialogue tracked millions of views for posts featuring AI-created images and misattributed footage linked to Iranian strikes in earlier episodes. These patterns illustrate the transnational dimension of the challenge that Kuwaiti authorities now confront through enhanced inter-agency collaboration.
Ongoing partnerships among ministries, academic institutions, media outlets and research entities will prove decisive as artificial intelligence capabilities continue to evolve, the collected statements emphasised. Kuwait’s response integrates real-time monitoring, enforcement actions, awareness drives and legislative refinement to shield its digital domain and preserve societal cohesion.
