MANILA — Deepfakes are causing concern as the country prepares to hold the May 2025 midterm elections, according to the Cybercrime Investigation and Coordinating Center (CICC). 

During a cybersecurity conference organized by the Stratbase Institute and the Embassy of Canada, CICC Executive Director Alexander Ramos said they receive 200 to 300 deepfake incidents each day.

Ramos said this was a serious concern that needed to be addressed, especially with the upcoming polls.

"Elections are just a few weeks away, and I think that's the thing that we have to address right now, because it will spell the big difference of how we're going to go into the future of the country. We are facing a challenge on artificial intelligence and deepfakes creating havoc," Ramos added.

He said the agency aims to empower the public to effectively combat the impact of manipulated media amid the rapid advancement of technologies for creating deepfakes.

CICC records over 10,000 cybercrime complaints in 2024

But Ramos also said the absence of a law to regulate content is a challenge.

"We need to regulate the content. How? Still within our Congress, to define the boundaries of regulation," he said.

Ramos said they are reaching out to content creators as well as social media platforms about the issue.

Effective solutions also require collaboration among government agencies, Ramos said citing a collaboration his agency launched last month with the Commission on Elections to fight deepfakes and misinformation for the coming election.

DICT warns vs fake AI content this election

Meanwhile, Stratbase Institute President Dindo Manhit noted that the Philippines made gains in the Global Cybersecurity Index but continues to grapple with a growing wave of cyber threats. 

"Malicious actors, leveraging the latest advancements in artificial intelligence and Internet-of-Things, are becoming increasingly adept at launching sophisticated cyber-attacks,” Manhit said.

He added that critical infrastructure, including telecommunication, financial systems, and more importantly, government databases, are at risk, which could lead to severe disruptions across the bureaucracy and the economy. 

“With the upcoming 2025 midterm elections on the horizon, there is growing concern that the Philippines will face an increased interference from external forces, along with a surge in AI-enhanced disinformation."

Manhit said deepfake videos, fake news, and coordinated social media campaigns could be used to influence public opinion, sway voters, discredit candidates, and delegitimize the electoral process. 

"This underscores the urgent need for a multi-faceted approach to cybersecurity that not only strengthens technological defenses but also enhances the resilience of society against digital manipulation,” Manhit explained.