The Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) is monitoring the possible utilization of “deepfake” in the upcoming 2025 midterm elections.
During an interview in Malacañang on Monday, DICT chief Ivan Uy said the use of digital manipulation is expected to add political noise in the upcoming national polls.
“I have no doubt it will be utilized,” Uy said after being asked about the possible use of deepfakes and artificial intelligence (AI) on malicious campaigns. “You know, elections sometimes can be extremely dirty.”
Uy acknowledged that candidates in today’s political arena will go to great lengths to secure victory, often leveraging the power of social media. These platforms have become essential tools for launching campaigns and engaging voters, offering unparalleled reach.
“You know, there are candidates who will resort to nothing less than full domination… to be elected,” Uy stated.
The DICT chief noted that the same social media platforms that enable the spread of information also facilitate disinformation.
“That’s the platform that’s gained traction, and again we go back to my position, which is that this made the platform the enabler (of information and disinformation),” he said.
President Ferdinand Marcos recently fell victim to the unethical use of deepfake last month after a video of an individual, who was made to look like the president was doing drugs, was circulated online. Local authorities, however, flagged the video as “fake and malicious.”
Last month, the Commission on Elections (Comelec) said it will release guidelines for the use of AI to promote political candidates in the May 2025 National and Local Elections (NLE). The poll body also said it will monitor the participation of social media influencers during the campaign period.
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