By Liezelle Soriano

MANILA – Information and Communications Technology Secretary John Ivan Uy stated on Monday (05 August 2024) that deepfakes and AI tools used to scam and deceive people have become a nationwide problem, posing a threat to the electoral process when exploited for political gain.

“Especially during elections, they can use them to malign or discredit certain people by attributing quotations or phrases that are extremely unpopular and making it appear that the person uttered those statements. This becomes even more destructive if released a few days before people cast their ballots, leaving no time for the real person to deny the statements,” he explained.

“So those are the things that we are seeing. [The] US elections are coming up in November, and we are seeing a proliferation of this even in the United States. It appears that even a first-world country like the United States is not able to completely address it, as issues still pop up here and there.”

Deepfake technology is used to make something appear real. It is often used for voice and video manipulation by replacing someone’s voice, video image, or photo over an existing image.

Uy noted that this is a global concern causing significant losses in various countries. He emphasized the need to address these problems immediately and called on legislators to enact laws against illicit online activities.

Uy also mentioned that the DICT is developing software and a platform to be incorporated into the existing government app to combat cybercrimes and misinformation.

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The Marcos administration is strengthening the country’s ‘digital infostructure’ to boost the broadband connectivity in geographically isolated and disadvantaged areas.

Assistant Sec. Renato ‘Aboy’ Paraiso said “on instruction of Sec. Ivan John Uy, the DICT is poised to issue a department circular on common tower policy that would require independent cell site station builders to focus on the GIDAs, or rural areas where internet connections are crucial to economic activities and online learning.

Paraiso said that there are more than 50 independent common tower companies operating in the country to catch up with the 50,000 targeted cell sites for the common use of the telcos.

“We need to establish a policy that would direct them to put their investments in GIDAs… for the country to achieve a fully digitized economy as envisioned by President Bongbong Marcos,” stressed Paraiso.

Strengthening the country’s digital infostructure, the DICT official explained, means increasing the foundational framework, and infrastructure that supports the creation, storage, processing, security and transmission of information.

This reportedly includes both the physical and digital components necessary for the information and communications technology systems to function effectively.

“This is where the telcos and independent common towers companies play a big role in helping the government to expedite the infostructure buildup if their cell stations will be erected in GIDAs,” said Paraiso.

Conceding that at least 65 percent of the country’s popularion is still without internet connection, Paraiso said at present only 2,374 cell sites were recorded to have been constructed by the independent common tower companies, excluding those which were not yet reported by another seven ICT firms.

He addes that the DICT is still in the process of updating the number of cell towers owned by the leading local telecom companies such as Globe, Smart-PLDT, Converge and Dito.

While the number of cellular towers in the country is far below the ideal requirement necessary for the country to attain a fully digitized economy, Paraiso has pinned hopes in the newly passed law – Republic Act 11659 – which removes restrictions on foreign ownership for telecom companies.

RA 11659, or the Public Service Act, provides that foreign nationals are allowed to own more than 50 percent of capital in public services engaged in the operation and management of critical infrastruture which includes telecommunications.

He explained that RA 11659 will provide the window for foreign capitals to get invested in telecom and related businesses like independent common tower builders. (END)

By Liza Soriano

Senator Koko Pimentel asserted that it is not necessary for the purchase of Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) equipment to come from confidential funds.

According to Pimentel, the DICT should create a policy to fight cybercrime without the need for confidential funds.

“The DICT’s primary role is not criminal law enforcement. It is not. It may have but it is not the primary role,” the lawmaker said.

The DICT is one of those agencies whose confidential funds were stripped by the House of Representatives, where it has a proposal of P300 million.

DICT Secretary John Ivan Uy said earlier that he would appeal to the Senate to return the agency’s confidential funds.

However, Pimentel said, “If we push that logic, it’s absurd, extreme. Ang buong budget pala ng Philippine National Police puwede nilang sabihin confidential fund na.”

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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.

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By Junex Doronio

AS MILLIONS OF PHILHEATH (Philippine Health Insurance Corporation) members were affected by the data breach in the system of the state insurer, this time the Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) gave a confusing statement, saying that it was the Confucius group — not Medusa — that uploaded a copy of over 600 gigabytes of files.

The copy was reportedly uploaded to a website and a Telegram channel after 4 p.m. on October 5, two days after the deadline for a payment of about $300,000 or approximately P17 million, ransom expired.

DICT Secretary Ivan Uy said the hackers may sell the leaked information to scammers and phishers considering that the perpetrators were not able to get the money they asked for.

“They will try to monetize the information by selling to scammers, to phishers para gamitin ‘yung data nila (to use their data),” he said.

On the other hand, DICT Undersecretary Jeffrey Dy said their analysis showed that there were no remnants of the Medusa malware in the members’ database.

Uy further said that investigators are still trying to identify if the hackers are Filipinos or foreigners.

“Sa tingin ko naman ‘yung local hindi sila maglalakas loob dahil mahahabol natin sila. Nasa loob ng ating jurisdiction,” he quipped.

Earlier, a video of the leaked information showed photos, bank cards, and transaction receipts of the victims, among others.

The DICT said that although the transaction data of some PhilHealth members were leaked but it assured the members’ database was not affected by the cyberattack. (ai/mnm)

By Junex Doronio

NOTICING THAT MANY ONLINE SCAMS and cyber sex abuses come from other countries, the Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) has justified its request for P300 million in confidential funds, saying it is crucial in the agency’s fight against scammers and cybercriminals.

DICT Secretary John Uy also disclosed that they are now coordinating with law enforcement agencies of those countries where cybercriminals operate to stop online financial crimes, as well as sexual abuses, especially those victimizing Filipino children.

“Many of these operators, they hide behind extra-territoriality because they feel if they operate from another country and the victims are not in that country but elsewhere, the law enforcers do not bother them,” Uy said on Tuesday, September 19, before the hearing of Senate finance committee.

Regarding online sexual abuses, Uy said the DICT informs the country where the perpetrators are located, and their law enforcers will track them down and seize the materials being used.

“What we’re trying to do is we’re trying to make the world smaller for them by having exchanges with these countries,” he pointed out.

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