The danger of filming missile interceptions to national security
A group of security experts and specialists affirmed that filming the interception of enemy missiles and drones, publishing related videos, or documenting the locations of their debris impacts constitutes an irresponsible act that directly threatens national security. The Saudi Ministry of Interior warned that such actions pose a threat to societal stability. The experts explained that public awareness is the first line of defense against intelligence attempts to exploit these videos as free intelligence regarding the accuracy of strikes and the locations of defensive platforms tasked with protecting national assets and lives.
The evolution of modern warfare and the exploitation of open-source resources
Historically, military information was shrouded in secrecy, and intelligence agencies expended arduous and costly efforts to obtain the coordinates of vital and defensive sites. With the rapid advancement of technology and the proliferation of smartphones, what is known as Open Source Intelligence (OSINT) emerged. In the tense regional context of the Middle East, militias and hostile actors increasingly rely on what ordinary individuals post on social media platforms. Anyone documenting the moment an attack is repelled provides the enemy with immediate and free feedback on the success or failure of their attack, allowing them to adjust the trajectories of their projectiles in future attacks and refine their offensive tactics.
Risks of filming missile interceptions to field forces
Professor Abdulrahman Badawi, Professor of Sociology and Criminology at King Khalid Military College, affirmed that the awareness of the nation's citizens is the strongest defense, surpassing even technological systems. He pointed out that a person who films missile interceptions in good faith unwittingly becomes an informant for the enemy, as these videos easily reveal geographical locations and coordinates for targeting military and civilian sites. He also warned that disseminating unofficial information opens the door wide to rumors, especially given the possibility of fabricating videos using artificial intelligence technologies, which threatens psychological and social security and spreads fear among the population.
D. Abdul Rahman Badawi
For his part, retired Major General Musfir Al-Ghamdi explained that the region is experiencing exceptional circumstances, including missile and drone attacks targeting vital sites. He emphasized that filming and broadcasting the impact sites provides the enemy with precise intelligence, enabling them to strike the same locations again or target other strategic sites. Al-Ghamdi considered this act of sabotage to be as dangerous as siding with the enemy against the country's security, praising the awareness of citizens and residents and the importance of reporting any violations.
Misfer Al-Ghamdi
Legal dimensions and their impact on regional and international stability
The impact of these practices is not limited to the domestic sphere; it extends to regional stability. Revealing air defense sites weakens the state's strategic position and emboldens hostile actors to escalate their attacks, potentially threatening air traffic and international trade in the region. Therefore, the law will deal firmly with anyone who dares to tamper with national security.
In this context, Dr. Abdulaziz Al-Hassan, a criminologist, warned against using mobile phone cameras to document these events in pursuit of media scoops or to increase followers. He emphasized that these videos accurately reveal the locations of air defense platforms and their response times, thus exposing field forces to the risk of direct targeting. He cautioned that such actions fall under the Anti-Cybercrime Law, as producing or disseminating material that harms public order or national security is a crime punishable by severe penalties.
Dr. Abdulaziz Al Hassan
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. She explained that this candid information is used to analyze security performance patterns, reducing the element of surprise and affecting the effectiveness of future preventative measures. She concluded by stating that awareness and adherence to the principle of not publishing such information are fundamental pillars in protecting the national security system from cyberattacks that could be exploited by external parties.
Alaa Al-Hamd
