By Junex Doronio

MANILA — The Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) has raised concerns over the potential surge of artificial intelligence (AI)-generated content during the 2025 midterm elections, warning that it could be used to spread misinformation and disinformation.

DICT Undersecretary Jeffrey Ian Dy acknowledged that while AI itself is not inherently harmful, they have observed an increase in misleading AI-generated content being used for deceptive purposes.

“What sets this election apart is that it will be heavily digitized, and our regulations have not yet fully adapted to that,” Dy said.

He pointed to deepfakes—manipulated videos and audio designed to mimic real personalities—as a major threat. Additionally, he warned of “vishing” or voice phishing, where scammers impersonate someone’s voice to deceive victims.

“AI-generated disinformation is a major problem we didn’t experience in the last election,” Dy added.

The DICT official urged voters and political parties to report any misleading or fake AI-generated posts to the Commission on Elections (Comelec). Once a complaint is filed with the Comelec, the DICT can notify social media platforms to take action.

ia/mnm

MANILA – The Philippine National Police (PNP) is working with the Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) to take down a viral video showing a man sniffing a powdery substance from a small cup.

PNP spokesperson Col. Jean Fajardo confirmed in a Thursday (25 July 2024) press briefing at Camp Crame that the Anti-Cybercrime Group (ACG) has already coordinated with the DICT regarding the video.

Fajardo urged netizens to refrain from spreading the video, which had been shown at a gathering linked to former President Rodrigo Duterte in the United States. “Based on initial investigations, it is not true that a high-profile personality is involved,” she said.

Justice Undersecretary Hermogenes Andres also stated that the video, which features a man resembling President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr., is fake and intended to misrepresent. He warned that those spreading the fake video could face cybercrime charges.

ACG Director Brig. Gen. Ronnie Cariaga revealed that a deepware artificial intelligence (AI) detection tool had determined the video was fake. Discrepancies in facial features, including the size of the ear, shape of the eyes and nose, and sideburns, indicated the man in the video was not Marcos. Spectral imaging analysis by the PNP and the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) supported this finding.

NBI digital forensics experts concluded that the man in the altered video is definitively not President Marcos.

(el Amigo/mnm)

By Liezelle Soriano

MANILA — The Department of Information and Communications Technology revealed that scammers have begun employing online messaging applications in place of traditional SMS.

DICT Spokesperson Asec. Aboy Paraiso responded to inquiries about how scammers are leveraging online messaging apps to deceive people.

“They have evolved. Previously, they operated via cell phones and SIM cards. Now, they utilize internet-based or app-based communication devices like Viber and Messenger,” Paraiso stated on Wednesday (July 10, 2024).

“They no longer need SIM cards. For instance, if they had previously registered on Viber and their SIM card has been deactivated due to non-compliance with our SIM Card Registration Law, their Viber account continues to operate,” he explained.

This trend persists despite the implementation of the Sim Card Registration Act. Paraiso noted earlier that some scammers resort to foreign SIM cards to circumvent local regulations.

Regarding intervention, Paraiso mentioned that they have engaged with these messaging apps, but concrete actions are still pending.

(el Amigo/mnm)

By Liezelle Soriano

MANILA — The Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) is advocating for the regulation of TikTok and other similar platforms due to concerns regarding national security.

DICT Undersecretary Jeffrey Ian Dy made this statement in response to the United States’ decision to ban TikTok.

“We are currently under scrutiny, and I’m not yet aware of the evidence behind it… However, we welcome the enactment of laws. Because there’s a bill that has been filed… We welcome the enactment of laws that would authorize the President of the Republic to control or regulate applications that are being utilized for such purposes,” Dy stated in a radio interview when questioned about TikTok’s alleged use for espionage.

Moreover, Dy mentioned that the agency is also investigating Telegram, citing instances where the application has been utilized to leak databases.

“Other applications are being utilized—for instance, Telegram. It’s not espionage, but it’s being used to leak hacked government databases,” the DICT official added.

Previously, House Deputy Majority Leader Bienvenido Abante filed a bill proposing the prohibition of “foreign adversary-controlled” applications in the country.

“The provisions in this proposed bill concentrate on national security threats and an application’s ownership by a foreign adversary. The primary motivation behind this bill is for our nation to be vigilant against foreign adversary countries infiltrating our communication infrastructure and undermining our cybersecurity and intelligence,” Abante remarked.

(el Amigo/MNM)

By Liezelle Soriano

MANILA — The Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) stated on Thursday (25 April 2024) that the individual behind the “deepfake” audio of President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. is a foreign actor, according to Assistant Secretary Patricia Martin of the Presidential Communications Office (PCO).

“They’re still actively investigating, but that’s also what the DICT has confirmed, that these are not local hackers,” Martin said in an interview with DZBB on Thursday.

Earlier, the PCO had cautioned the public against video content posted online using Marcos’s voice manipulated through deepfake technology, purportedly urging the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) to attack China.

Martin mentioned that they have reached out to the DICT and the National Security Council to investigate the matter, stating that they will take legal action against those responsible for the deepfake audio.

“Our goal is not only to identify but also to take appropriate action against those spreading false information,” she said.

The PCO official emphasized that the President is “very serious and very concerned” about such matters.

Martin also emphasized the importance of stopping the spread of misinformation and disinformation, as it could potentially harm the country’s foreign relations and national security.

“It is crucial to prevent this type of fake news because it has the potential to cause serious damage to our foreign relations and national security,” she stressed.

(el Amigo/MNM)

By Junex Doronio

MANILA — Believe it or not China has expressed willingness to help the Philippines in addressing the recent attempted cyberattack on the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration’s (OWWA) website.

This was revealed on Thursday (February 8) by Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) Secretary Ivan Uy who said the “attackers” were traced to China Unicom, a leading contributor in the operation and service of digital information infrastructure and a pioneer in the integration and innovation of digital technologies.

“They have reached out to ask if we can do some cooperation. Dahil it’s both ways. Cooperation has to come, you know, as a mutual activity,” Uy said in a Malacañang press briefing.

Last Saturday, DICT Undersecretary Jeff Ian Dy revealed that they successfully thwarted the hacking attack on the OWWA’s website.

“In our investigation, the attacker, we were able to trace iyong kanilang tinatawag na ‘command and control’ operating from within China. So, we were able to detect that the attackers were coming from China Unicom. So, I think we will need to coordinate with them (investigation),” Dy said.

It was learned that China Unicom is one of China’s top three telecommunications companies.

China Unicom’s parent company, state-owned China United Network Communications Group, was established in 1994 and is supervised by the State-Owned Assets Supervision and Administration Commission.

(el Amigo/MNM)

By Junex Doronio

MANILA — It pays to be “alisto” (alert) as the Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) foiled the hackers believed to be operating in China who breached the email systems and internal websites of several government agencies.

On Saturday, DICT Undersecretary for Cybersecurity Jeff Ian Dy revealed that the department, in cooperation with tech giant Google, detected and mitigated the situation from further escalation by shutting down the access of hackers.

“So ang target niya ay government emails and websites (So the targets are government emails and websites),” Dy said at the Saturday News Forum in Quezon City.

He noted that the hackers targeted those with “gov.ph” domains.

The email domains targeted by hackers were:

cabsec.gov.ph
coastguard.gov.ph
cpbrd.congress.gov.ph
dict.gov.ph
doj.gov.ph
ncws.gov.ph

Dy further said private domains were also targeted, including www.bongbongmarcos.com (pbbm.com.ph) —the private website of President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr.

He bared the cyber-attack, which he described as “academically perfect,” was probably done by one of the three notorious hacking groups: Lonely Island, Meander, and Panda.

“These are believed to be advanced threat groups that operate within the ambit of Chinese territories,” Dy said.

It can be recalled that late last year, several government websites were attacked, such as the Philippine Health Insurance Corp. (PhilHealth) which was hit by a ransomware attack that resulted in the leak of its data.

Also hacked were the websites of the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA), the Philippine National Police (PNP), and the Department of Science and Technology (DOST).

(el Amigo/MNM)

By Liezelle Soriano

MANILA — The Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) Undersecretary David Almirol Jr. has announced the agency’s plan to double the number of WiFi sites in the country.

“I think the plan is to double the number of free WiFi, especially in LGUs (local government units) that really need connectivity to implement what is called eLGU,” said Information and Communications Technology Undersecretary on Wednesday (24 Jan 2024).

“In fact, part of the DICT’s effort is to ensure that while the DILG, DICT, and ARTA [Anti-Red Tape Authority] are implementing eLGU, it needs to be accompanied by connectivity. The efforts should run parallel,” he added.

Responding to a question about the overall number of free WiFi sites set up by the DICT, Almirol referred to reports stating that 25,000 sites would be available by the end of 2023.

Interior and Local Government Secretary Benjamin Abalos Jr. mentioned that the DILG has completed streamlining the processing of business licenses, occupancy permits, and other permits.

(el Amigo/MNM)

By Liezelle Soriano

THE House of Representatives pushes for an additional budget for the Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) for 2024 due to incessant cybersecurity attacks.

House Committee on Appropriations chairperson Elizaldy Co of Ako-Bicol party-list issued the statement after issues of hacking of the databases in government agencies such as the Philippine Health Insurance Corporation, Department of Science and Technology, the Philippine National Police, Philippine Statistics Office and now the House of Representatives.

“We recognize the dire need of the DICT for resources to fight cybercrime and ransomware attacks. We will work with our colleagues in the Senate to look for more sources of funds for the DICT,” Co said.

“For the continuing ransomware attacks, we convey to the Department of Budget and Management the urgent need for additional funds for the DICT and for government agencies being attacked and vulnerable to cyberattack,” the lawmaker added.

The proposed budget of DICT for 2024 is P8.729 billion.

DICT was among the agencies whose confidential funds were removed.

Information and Communications Technology Secretary Ivan John Uy said that it will appeal to Congress to grant the P300 million confidential funds.

Earlier, Albay Representative Edcel Lagman said that DICT does not need confidential funds, saying that the department can tap cybersecurity experts of the National Bureau of Investigation for surveillance needs.

“We should maintain the zero allocation and…they can avail of the expert services of agencies who have their own confidential and intelligence funds,” said Lagamn in a report.

(ai/mnm)

By Liezelle Soriano

THE systems of the Philippine National Police and the Department of Science and Technology have been breached, the Department of Information and Communications Technology said Friday, the 13th of October.

“Dito sa DOST, we confirm na mukhang breaches nga ito. Initial report is that there are some experts’ data, [personal identifiable information] ng mga experts,” DICT Undersecretary Jeffrey Ian Dy said in a radio interview.

“Meron din kasing report sa PNP, pero iyan ay sobrang luma naman iyan so kumbaga hina-hype lang nila pero lumang tugtugin na rin iyon,” added Dy.

While experts consider the data breach “dangerous,” Dy claims the leak is on a small scale.

“We’re going to advise DOST to also advise the people whose credentials were leaked to make the proper defenses or mitigations,” Dy said.

Earlier, a data breach in the Community-Based Monitoring System (CBMS) of the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) was also reported.

DICT said that is now looking at possible suspects behind the data breach in PSA.

However, Information and Communications Technology Spokesman Assistant Secretary Renato “Aboy” Paraiso did not disclose the name or what group was behind the attack.

“We want to be responsible as well in statements that we would issue out so we will be more accurate and responsive to all the queries. With the PSA, our suspect is local and amateur,” Paraiso said.

Meanwhile, the official reminded the public to be vigilant.

“We would like to ask the public to be very vigilant at huwag ho masyadong mag-panic given that again we have very competent people here in DICT and we would be very transparent if there is an actual attack that happened as long as we can confirm it we will tell the public right away,” Paraiso said.

(ai/mnm)

By Liezelle Soriano

DEPARTMENT of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) Secretary Ivan John Uy said that their agency will appeal to the Senate after the House of Representatives stripped off its confidential and intelligence funds.

Uy said they would ask for reconsideration in the Senate.

“While cyber threats and cyber criminals are increasing… the Philippines — going against the tide of the rest of the world — is defunding our cybersecurity and is actually announcing to the world that we’re not interested in protecting our cyber borders,” he said in an interview with ANC.

The DICT has proposed P300 million CIF for 2024 and it was among those five agencies whose CIF was stripped off.

The department insisted that cybersecurity funds should also be a secret to prevent hackers from knowing the information about the equipment.

“If you do that, what will happen is you need to publish your terms of reference in a newspaper informing all cybercriminals how thick the safe that you’re going to use, what kind of alarm systems that you’re going to purchase. Where the locks are, what kind of locks you are buying, what are the features of those locks,” Uy said.

The CIF of the five agencies namely DICT, Office of the Vice President, Department of Education, Department of Agriculture, and Department of Foreign Affairs were realigned to security agencies, totaling an amount of P1.23 billion.

(ai/mnm)