Dubai: Dubai Police have warned that increasingly realistic artificial intelligence (AI) deepfakes could threaten digital security, spread misinformation and make it harder for people to distinguish genuine photographs, videos and audio recordings from fabricated content.
A new study by the Dubai Police Future Foresight Centre highlights how advances in generative AI are creating challenges for online trust, digital investigations and the verification of evidence.
The report warns that the challenge is no longer limited to identifying fake content. Authorities and institutions may also need to prove that genuine digital material has not been manipulated.
How Deepfakes Could Enable Fraud
Brigadier Dr Hamdan Ahmad Hamdan Al Ghassiya, director of the Future Foresight Centre at Dubai Police, said advances in generative AI are making it easier to replicate human faces and voices and create convincing videos and audio recordings.
These capabilities could be exploited for identity theft, impersonation, financial fraud and the deliberate spread of misleading information, posing risks to individuals, businesses and security authorities.
The technology could also complicate investigations in which photographs, videos or audio recordings are used as evidence. As manipulated content becomes more sophisticated, establishing the authenticity of digital material may become increasingly difficult.
Genuine Content Could Also Face Doubts
One of the study’s major concerns is that the growing prevalence of deepfakes could weaken public confidence in authentic information.
As people become more aware of AI-generated manipulation, even genuine photographs, videos and voice recordings may be questioned.
This creates a dual challenge for authorities: detecting fabricated material while also demonstrating that authentic content is reliable.
The study highlights the importance of verifying the origin and integrity of digital files so that individuals and institutions can make better-informed judgments about the information they encounter.
Misinformation Among Major Global Risks
The issue reflects a wider international concern. Misinformation and disinformation ranked as the second most significant global risk over the next two years, according to the World Economic Forum’s Global Risks Report 2026.
The increasing accessibility of AI tools could make digital manipulation easier to carry out and more convincing, placing additional pressure on organisations responsible for protecting the public and verifying information.
Can AI Help Detect Deepfakes?
Although AI is contributing to the spread of manipulated content, the technology could also help identify it.
The Dubai Police study points to the potential use of AI-based tools to analyse images, videos and voices for signs of manipulation. Advanced digital forensic techniques could also help investigators assess evidence and respond to increasingly sophisticated fraud.
However, technological solutions alone may not be sufficient. Public awareness, stronger digital verification skills and clear procedures for handling suspicious content will also be important.
Dubai Police Call for Greater Digital Awareness
The study recommends that security authorities monitor technological developments, identify early warning signs and assess emerging risks before new forms of digital deception become widespread.
It also emphasises the importance of combining technology with public education and institutional preparedness to maintain confidence in digital information.
The initiative forms part of the Ministry of Interior’s “Safe UAE Through Your Digital Awareness” campaign, launched in cooperation with Dubai Police and the Dubai Electronic Security Centre. It coincides with Cybersecurity Awareness Month, observed every October.
According to Al Ghassiya, the broader objective is not simply to identify fake content but to preserve trust in genuine information as AI continues to transform how people create, share and consume digital media.
