NBI monitoring users of deepfakes in campaign

MANILA, Philippines — The National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) will be monitoring online use of deepfakes and fake news as well as red-tagging in campaigning for the 2025 midterm elections.

NBI Director Jaime Santiago confirmed to The STAR in a Viber text message that the agency will be monitoring everything related to cybercrime.

This came after an initial report of Kontra Daya and Vote Report PH bared that most campaign violations consisted of red-tagging, using deepfakes and illegal campaigning.

The Commission on Elections has responded that it will look into the report and compare the group’s findings with Comelec records.

“We are one with them in the fight against discriminatory acts and utterances committed during the election period and will hold responsible violators of campaign rules,” Comelec Chairman George Garcia told
 reporters.

On Thursday, Santiago said that their agency will investigate vloggers and trolls spreading fake news online.

Santiago warned that the NBI’s cybercrime unit is taking action against online attacks and will soon file cases, including against US-based vlogger Maharlika, for possible violations of the anti-cybercrime law and inciting to sedition. ?

The cases will be filed with the Department of Justice in the coming days or weeks.

The NBI chief warned those spreading false information to stop before facing legal consequences, emphasizing that freedom of speech and the press has limitations.