A LAWMAKER has urged the Commission on Elections (Comelec) and the Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) to collaborate proactively in combating deepfakes ahead of the May 2025 midterm elections.

Deepfakes, which are manipulated audio and video that impersonate real individuals, pose significant risks to electoral integrity, particularly with 18,000 positions up for grabs, Rep. LRay Villafuerte said.

Villafuerte emphasized the need for these agencies to establish a system that can effectively monitor and remove digitally altered content related to candidates.

He suggested that the DICT’s Cybercrime Investigation and Coordinating Center (CICC) should develop a robust monitoring system to address the anticipated surge of AI-generated misinformation during the campaign period.

Villafuerte warned that the use of AI technology could lead to serious consequences if not properly regulated.

During the recent launch of Cyber Awareness Month, DICT Undersecretary Jeffrey Ian Dy echoed these concerns, highlighting the rise in misleading AI-generated content.

He pointed out that this election cycle will be heavily digitized, requiring new regulations to keep pace with evolving technologies.

Dy noted that social media giants like Meta, Google, and TikTok have committed to assisting the government in flagging misleading AI content.

In related news, the Comelec has identified 156 organizations and political groups that will participate in next year's elections, with a raffle to determine their order on the official ballot scheduled for October 18.(CMM)

• Tags
• #Commission on Elections
• #Comelec
• #Department of Information and Communications Technology
• #DICT
• #Midterm Elections
• #Deepfake
• #LRay Villafuerte
• #Cybercrime Investigation and Coordinating Center
• #AI
• #Artificial Intelligence