DICT, Meta tighten watch against AI-driven scams, online disinformation

CALAMBA CITY, Laguna (PIA) – The Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) has coordinated with social media giant Meta to strengthen efforts in combating the growing threat of artificial intelligence (AI)-generated scams and online disinformation.

DICT Secretary Henry Rhoel Aguda and Meta officials have discussed strategies to counter the misuse of emerging technologies that enable the rapid creation and spread of fabricated content, including disinformation and misinformation, phishing attempts, and other digital scams targeting Filipino users.

“Part of the talks also focused on ways to eliminate and filter AI-generated videos on Facebook, since more Filipinos use this platform compared to other social media sites,” DICT Calabarzon Information Officer II Clark Christopher Sarmiento said during the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) Calabarzon National Information and Communications Technology Household Survey (NICTHS) Regional Data Dissemination Forum.

The partnership comes amid rising global concern about the impact of generative AI tools, which can produce hyper-realistic text, images, and videos that blur the line between fact and fiction.

According to the PSA 2024 NITCHS result presented on Sept. 29, individuals in Calabarzon who experienced any cyber incidents (text scams, phishing, and hacking) increased from 30 percent in 2019 to almost double at 58.5 percent in 2024.

The DICT said its Cybercrime Investigation and Coordinating Center (CICC) is closely working with law enforcement agencies and private sector partners to monitor, investigate, and take down AI-generated scams and malicious content circulating online.

The agency emphasized that CICC’s role is vital in ensuring that cases of cyber fraud and disinformation are properly addressed, while also raising public awareness on how to avoid falling victim to such schemes.

“CICC facilitates and manages incidents involving fake news and online scams, especially those that target our countrymen. They guide victims on the proper steps to take, including whether to file a complaint. The CICC is also in close coordination with the Philippine National Police Anti-Cybercrime Group,” Sarmiento said.

While the 2024 NITCHS also revealed that awareness on cybersecurity or data privacy increased by six percentage points among Filipinos in Calabarzon, DICT still encourages the public to remain vigilant online, verify information from trusted sources, and report suspicious content through official government and platform reporting channels. (AM/PIA 4A)