National systems in the UAE have successfully blocked more than 640,000 cyberattacks within a single day. This was announced by Mohamed Al Kuwaiti, Head of the UAE Cybersecurity Council.
The attacks included an attempt to destroy data within private sector infrastructure that supports government operations. According to Mohamed Al Kuwaiti, cybersecurity teams successfully repelled the attack and fully secured the data. He emphasized that the UAE is prepared to counter emerging digital threats.
Combating disinformation and cyberterrorism
Mohamed Al Kuwaiti made these remarks during the “Media and Fifth-Generation Warfare” session at the 24th Arab Media Summit. The session was moderated by Sky News Arabia presenter Sami Qasmi.
Mohamed Al Kuwaiti noted that while technical glitches can be localized and resolved, a far greater threat is “the paralysis of thought” and cyberterrorism, which targets individuals and influences their loyalties, values, and habits.
The Head of the Cybersecurity Council stressed that the spread of disinformation can have dangerous consequences, potentially even threatening human lives. He highlighted the need to counter these risks by strengthening national loyalty and preserving values and cultural heritage.
Mohamed Al Kuwaiti distinguished between cybercrime, cyberwarfare, and cyberterrorism, noting that the latter targets human consciousness and aims to strip people of positive ideas. He stated that cyberterrorism is a tool of fifth-generation warfare, which the UAE is preparing to confront.
Mohamed Al Kuwaiti also noted that AI-based technologies already exist to help detect and respond to rumors. At the same time, he emphasized the need to maintain human oversight to verify and improve the reliability and accuracy of responses.
He added that some entities use modern technology to spread speculation and defamatory claims. The Cybersecurity Council counters such practices through official statements and media briefings.
Source: Sky News Arabia
