The Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) has raised concerns over the possible rise of AI-generated fake videos intended to advance political interests for the 2025 midterm elections.

DICT Undersecretary Jeffrey Ian Dy issued the warning on Tuesday, February 6, during a House hearing.

"We believe that especially with the upcoming elections, this particular threat might increase, and we might be unable to cope with the volume of the expected influx of requests to take down AI-generated false statements and false news," Dy said.

The official was particularly referring to "deepfake," a type of technology that utilizes AI to create fake videos or images that appear very realistic.

It works by taking existing footage or images of a person and then using sophisticated algorithms to alter their appearance or make them say or do things that they never did.

"Mas advanced lang ngayon ang cognitive warfare because they can mimic actual personalities," Dy said.

"This is the use of fake news or disinformation in order to shape people’s opinion," he added.

Dy cited the fake videos that featured the face and voice of GMA host Susan Enriquez, who was made to appear that she was promoting the distribution of a particular necklace from Italy.

"Gamit po ang kanyang video, pati yung kanyang audio recording na di-nub doon sa video niya to make it look like she’s endorsing a particular product, when in fact she did not," he added.

Cybersecurity expert Art Samaniego recommended the passage of a law that regulates this technology and penalizes those using "deepfakes" for illegal purposes.

"Dapat gumawa tayo ng batas tungkol dito para mapagbawalan o ma-regulate ang paggamit ng AI," he said.

Samaniego also advised the government to invest in research and the acquisition of new cybersecurity technologies and solutions.

He also raised the need to educate the public on the risks of cyberattacks and how to stay safe online.

Meanwhile, the DICT also reported that Chinese hackers caused the cyberattacks on Philippine government websites.

However, Dy said they do not have evidence linking these hacking incidents to the Chinese government.

"The type of attack used is very sophisticated. I would call it theoretically perfect — pinag-aralan at magagaling yung gumawa ng malware," Dy said.

Among those targeted by hackers are the websites of DICT, the Department of Justice, the Congressional Police and Budget Research Department of the House of Representatives, and President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr.'s private website.

They also targeted agencies involved in the West Philippine Sea, including the Philippine Coast Guard and the National Coast Watch System.

"However, it is crucial to understand that at this stage, we lack direct evidence conclusively linking these incidents to be having the authorization of the Chinese government," Dy said.