EDITORIAL - The deepfake menace

The video portrays President Marcos ordering the Armed Forces of the Philippines and “special task groups” to act in however way they deem appropriate in case China attacks the country. The voice is obviously fake; Ferdinand Marcos Jr. is not known to raise his voice in public or sound agitated.

Because the video and audio were circulating, however, Malacañang found it necessary to issue a statement warning the public that the content is a deepfake. With advances in artificial intelligence, prominent figures worldwide have become victims of audio and video deepfakes and other malicious generative AI content. In the Philippines, deepfakes of celebrities endorsing products are becoming increasingly common. Other government officials have also found themselves used in deepfake content.

The ease of producing such deepfakes has heightened the problem of disinformation, misinformation and malicious content using digital platforms. This poses risks to so many aspects of life including governance, financial transactions and the conduct of elections.

Apart from promoting digital literacy, the government must intensify efforts to boost the nation’s capability to crack down on deepfakes and other malicious content on digital platforms. This is a challenge around the world, but the tech giants are willing to work with governments in carrying out such crackdowns. People can do their part by drawing attention to suspicious content such as the deepfake of President Marcos.

In the rare instances where perpetrators are caught, authorities must make sure the full force of the law is applied. The country has laws governing cybersecurity and privacy, but enforcement has always been a challenge.

Boosting efforts against deepfakes is critical particularly with the approach of the midterm elections in May 2025. The country was already awash with disinformation, misinformation, smear jobs and trolling during the 2022 election season. Many voters are confused enough and unable to tell truth from lies, making informed choices difficult. The integrity of the elections could be seriously compromised. The deepfake of President Marcos should spur the government toward more resolute action against this menace.