Telco warns of rising deepfake threat ahead of 2025 elections

CEBU, Philippines — Converge ICT Solutions Inc. has issued a strong warning against the rising threat of deepfakes and misinformation in the Philippines, particularly as the country heads into the 2025 midterm elections.

Andrew T. Malijan, Senior Vice President and Corporate Information Security Officer of Converge, emphasized that politically motivated disinformation campaigns are expected to surge during the election season, with the internet serving as a primary battleground for these activities.

In response, Converge is ramping up efforts to fortify its network against malicious actors and collaborating with the government to educate the public on the dangers of online deception.

The Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) and the Commission on Elections (Comelec) recently launched an initiative aimed at curbing the spread of disinformation and deepfake technology ahead of the May 2025 elections.

Deepfakes, which utilize artificial intelligence (AI) and facial recognition technology to manipulate videos and superimpose a person’s likeness onto another individual, pose significant risks to information integrity.

Citing data from the Global Initiative Against Transnational Organized Crime, Malijan highlighted that the Asia-Pacific region experienced a staggering 1,530 percent increase in deepfake-related incidents between 2022 and 2023.

The Philippines recorded the highest surge, with cases soaring by 4,500 percent within the same period.

In a further demonstration of the escalating cyber threat landscape, Malijan reported that between January and February 2025, Converge detected 123 billion unauthorized access attempts on its network—already accounting for 80 percent of the total breaches recorded in 2024.

"We may very well exceed the 2024 record of 180 billion entry attempts, as the first two months of this year have already logged alarming numbers," he said.

As part of its commitment to a safer online ecosystem, Converge recently participated in DICT’s culminating event for Safer Internet Month. The multi-stakeholder forum focused on educating children, parents, and guardians about the dangers of online sexual exploitation and abuse, reinforcing proactive measures to safeguard internet users.

Since 2021, Converge has been an active member of the UK-based Internet Watch Foundation (IWF), an organization dedicated to combating online child exploitation.

Locally, it partners with the Stairway Foundation, a child protection advocacy group, and collaborates with Scam Watch Pilipinas to combat online and offline fraud.

With cyber threats escalating and deepfake technology advancing, Converge reiterates its commitment to digital security and calls for greater vigilance among internet users, particularly in an election year.