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Kuwait Warns of Cyber Blackmail Against Government Officials

An aerial view shows Kuwait City. Reuters file photo
An aerial view shows Kuwait City. Reuters file photo
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Kuwait Warns of Cyber Blackmail Against Government Officials

An aerial view shows Kuwait City. Reuters file photo
An aerial view shows Kuwait City. Reuters file photo

The Kuwaiti Ministry of Information has warned that unnamed parties are blackmailing government officials on social media, vowing to take legal measures against them.

Some Kuwaiti MPs and politicians criticized the statement claiming it restricts freedom of opinion.

Media sources expect the Ministry, in cooperation with the security authorities, to launch a campaign against suspicious social media accounts after the Eid al-Fitr holiday.

The Ministry accused the accounts of blackmailing ministers and government officials, forcing them to take certain decisions or actions.

The Ministry issued a statement asserting its intention to monitor all these cases and refer them to concerned authorities for taking the necessary actions that preserve the status of public office for state employees in the public interest.

The spokesman for the Ministry of Information, Anwar Murad, said that the cooperation comes from the Ministry’s keenness to coordinate media work in the public interest.

Murad explained that the Ministry is willing to cooperate with the media for the public’s interest, asserting it will be relentless and would spare no effort in holding accountable anyone who tries to use blackmail to further their interests.

Member of parliament Abdul Karim al-Kandari rejected and condemned the statement of the Ministry of Information.

Kandari said on Twitter the statement sounds like a threat, noting that cases of blackmail against officials or public employees should be referred to the judiciary.

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GCC-Central Asia Strategic Dialogue Focuses on Strengthening Cooperation

The Third Ministerial Meeting of the Gulf Cooperation Council-Central Asia Strategic Dialogue held in Kuwait. Photo: KUNA
The Third Ministerial Meeting of the Gulf Cooperation Council-Central Asia Strategic Dialogue held in Kuwait. Photo: KUNA
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GCC-Central Asia Strategic Dialogue Focuses on Strengthening Cooperation

The Third Ministerial Meeting of the Gulf Cooperation Council-Central Asia Strategic Dialogue held in Kuwait. Photo: KUNA
The Third Ministerial Meeting of the Gulf Cooperation Council-Central Asia Strategic Dialogue held in Kuwait. Photo: KUNA

Gulf Cooperation Council foreign ministers and their counterparts from Central Asia discussed in Kuwait on Wednesday consolidating cooperation in several fields.

The Third Ministerial Meeting of the Gulf Cooperation Council-Central Asia Strategic Dialogue focused on enhancing the strong relations between the GCC and Central Asian countries and discussed a joint action plan to advance cooperation in the political, economic, cultural, and tourism sectors.

Preparations were also reviewed for the upcoming summit between the GCC and Central Asian countries, scheduled to take place in Samarkand, Uzbekistan, next month. This summit follows the inaugural one held in Saudi Arabia in 2023.

The meeting additionally addressed recent international developments and the ongoing efforts in response.

Saudi Minister of Foreign Affairs Prince Faisal bin Farhan bin Abdullah attended the meeting.

Kuwaiti Foreign Minister Abdullah Al-Yahya said the meeting marks a significant milestone in establishing a sustainable partnership based on mutual respect and shared interests.

Speaking at a joint press conference with GCC Secretary-General Jassem Al-Budaiwi after the meeting, Al-Yahya, current President of the GCC Ministerial Council, highlighted the growing historical, cultural, and human ties between the two regions, and emphasized the shared political will to strengthen strategic cooperation.

The meeting focused on several key areas of priority, including enhancing economic and trade cooperation, encouraging investment, and developing sectors such as transport and energy, clean energy transitions, green economies, and modern technologies, Kuwait News Agency (KUNA) reported.

Discussions also focused on food and water security, digital infrastructure, and artificial intelligence, aiming to support stability and sustainable development.

On political and security matters, the foreign minister stressed the importance of consultation and coordination on shared challenges, especially in combating terrorism, extremism, and cyber threats, and praised the GCC Secretariat for its role in advancing joint action mechanisms.

Regarding regional and international issues, Al-Yahya reaffirmed the GCC's steadfast support for the legitimate rights of the Palestinian people, including the establishment of an independent state based on the 1967 border with East Jerusalem as its capital, and also called for an immediate

On his part, Al-Budaiwi said that both the GCC and Central Asian states are committed to advancing cooperation across various sectors, as outlined in the Joint Action Plan for 2023-27.

He stated that the meeting included an exchange of views on regional and global developments, particularly the Israeli occupation's violations against the Palestinian people, and reiterated the GCC's rejection of these violations and called on the international community to act decisively in support of Palestinian rights, including the establishment of a sovereign state.