Gulf Digital Sovereignty in the Age of AI Warfare

Governing an Ungovernable Space

For much of modern history, a state’s global influence was measured through military power, territorial reach, international alliances, and financial clout. Today, however, the influence of states extends through digital media that shape how societies absorb information, interpret political events, and manage crises. Algorithms embedded within social media platforms and search engines now influence public perception at a scale and speed that traditional media struggle to match.

In 2026, a viral video made with artificial intelligence showing smoke rising from a high-rise building in Bahrain was disseminated via social media in an attempt to convince domestic and international audiences that the war in the Middle East is spreading. A deep fake video, presumably showing how USS Abraham Lincoln was sinking after an Iranian missile strike was also widely disseminated in social media.

What those incidents show is how artificial intelligence is impacting modern warfare. Fabricated images and videos have long been used in counter-intelligence operations to mislead an adversary; however, AI has made it dramatically cheaper and faster to produce convincing material and distribute it to audiences unlikely to question its authenticity. The U.S. military has already announced its decision to integrate artificial intelligence in command operations, claiming it will improve the accuracy of command decisions. Last year, NATO acquired AI-enabled war-fighting systems that use cutting-edge artificial intelligence to support military operations and enhance battlefield awareness. As a result, deterrence is no longer defined by physical or material superiority, but also by how states counter AI-driven propaganda and integrate AI into their own military operations.

AI can also enable covert digital operations and automated cyberattacks, while AI-powered defenses are equally necessary to protect critical…

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