Security and military experts have confirmed that the practice of filming and distributing videos documenting military operations against hostile missiles and drones, or documenting the locations where their debris falls, is an irresponsible act that directly threatens national security and social stability in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. These warnings align with statements from the Ministry of Interior, which has repeatedly emphasized that such actions pose a genuine threat to the safety of the nation and its citizens.
Historically, Saudi Arabia has faced regional security challenges over the years, including repeated attempts by armed militias to target civilian and economic infrastructure using ballistic missiles and drones. The Royal Saudi Air Defense Forces have demonstrated exceptional efficiency in intercepting and destroying these threats, achieving unprecedented success rates globally, utilizing state-of-the-art defense systems. With technological advancements and the ease of use of smartphones, the phenomenon of spontaneous documentation by some individuals has emerged, necessitating decisive awareness campaigns and legal measures to prevent the exploitation of this material by hostile intelligence agencies.
Free aid to the enemy and psychological warfare
In this context, Professor Abdulrahman Badawi, Professor of Sociology and Criminology at King Khalid Military College, explained that societal awareness represents the first line of defense and the strongest defense, surpassing in importance purely technological systems. He pointed out that any citizen or resident who shares such videos, even with good intentions, unwittingly becomes an intelligence tool serving the enemy, as these clips facilitate the precise identification of geographical locations and coordinates for targeting vital installations with ease.
Dr. Badawi added that circulating unofficial information, which may be fabricated using artificial intelligence techniques, opens a wide door for spreading rumors and inciting fear among the population, which threatens psychological and social security, stressing the need to adhere to official sources and stop circulating biased clips in support of the stationed soldiers.
D. Abdul Rahman Badawi
A direct threat to national security and military tactics
From a military and strategic perspective, retired Major General Musfir Al-Ghamdi explained that the region is experiencing extraordinary circumstances, including continuous and intense missile and drone attacks targeting vital sites. Al-Ghamdi emphasized that photographing missile impact sites or interception trajectories provides adversaries with completely free and open-source intelligence (OSINT). This information enables the enemy to analyze missile trajectories, determine response times, and accurately pinpoint the locations of air defense systems, allowing them to refine their offensive tactics, launch retaliatory strikes, or target other strategic locations.
Misfer Al-Ghamdi
Major General Al-Ghamdi considered this act to be as dangerous as working alongside the enemy against the country's security and safety. He commended the awareness of citizens and residents in the Kingdom and their understanding of the necessity to report anyone engaging in such destructive filming so that they may receive the appropriate punishment, thus protecting the nation from all harm.
Strict legal prosecution and cybercrime
On the legal front, Dr. Abdulaziz Al-Hassan, a criminologist, warned against using mobile phone cameras to document missile interceptions in pursuit of a media scoop or to gain followers and fame. He emphasized that such footage accurately reveals the locations of air defense platforms, their response times, and their operational mechanisms, thus exposing field forces to the risk of direct targeting by those lying in wait.
Dr. Abdulaziz Al Hassan
He pointed out that such actions fall under the cybercrime law, as producing or publishing anything that harms public order or national security is a crime punishable by severe penalties, including imprisonment and fines. He emphasized that national security is a duty, not a trending topic, and that awareness is an integral part of the system for defending the country's stability.
Weakening the efficiency of security operations
In a related context, writer and criminal investigator Alaa Al-Hamad emphasized that publishing videos of protest interceptions directly impacts the efficiency of security operations by revealing details of deployment and field response mechanisms. Al-Hamad stated that this candid information is used to analyze security performance patterns, thus reducing the element of surprise, affecting the effectiveness of future preventative measures, and endangering the safety of security personnel.
Alaa Al-Hamd
She explained that sharing such materials opens the door for hostile entities to develop counter-offensive tactics based on an analysis of defensive strengths and weaknesses. She concluded that awareness and a commitment to non-disclosure are fundamental pillars in protecting national security from cyberattacks that could be exploited by external parties.
