AS the 2025 midterm elections approach, Filipinos prepare for more than just casting their votes. They’re also navigating a digital space flooded with AI-generated noise. From deepfakes to spoofed sites, disinformation tools are evolving quickly and becoming harder to recognize. Knowing whom to trust online has never been more critical in a season shaped as much by timelines and group chats as by campaign rallies.
AI-driven disinformation
Cybersecurity experts are raising the alarm. Palo Alto Networks, a global leader in the field, says today’s digital threats are moving faster and hitting harder. “What’s different today is the precision, scale, and speed at which disinformation can spread. Deepfakes and phishing scams are no longer obvious or amateur. They are targeted, realistic, and timed to exploit moments of national significance. In this environment, every voter becomes a potential target,” said Steven Scheurmann, regional vice president for Asean.
The Cybercrime Investigation and Coordinating Center (CICC) tracks up to 300 deepfake incidents daily in the Philippines. Many are part of coordinated efforts to manipulate public opinion and amplify false narratives. With trust at stake, Palo Alto Networks urges the public to adopt habits that protect personal data and the broader digital space.
How voters can stay ahead
Spotting falsehoods online is getting harder as content becomes more polished and persuasive. Some posts may look real but are designed to deceive. If something feels off, such as a message pressuring you to act quickly, it’s worth pausing and checking with someone you trust before clicking, sharing, or responding.
It also helps to secure your accounts. Turning on multifactor authentication adds a simple but effective layer of protection. And when browsing election-related sites, always check the URL. Do not assume everything online is trustworthy. Scrutinize links and messages before you click.
Inside the govt’s digital war room
While individual vigilance is essential, institutions also play a critical role, especially as online threats grow more coordinated. That is why the Philippine government launched a 24/7 Threat Monitoring Center. Built in just two days, the center is designed to detect and dismantle disinformation. The Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT), the CICC, and the Commission on Elections (Comelec) lead the initiative.
The center brings together experts from government, law enforcement, civil society, tech platforms, and fact-checkers. Using digital forensics and real-time monitoring, the team works to stop harmful content before it spreads and counters it with verified information.
Comelec Chairman George Garcia cited the false claim “No National ID, No Vote” as an example of how quickly misleading content can spread and confuse the public. AI-generated videos, memes, and manipulated images continue to distort facts and erode trust.
Platforms under pressure
Beyond monitoring, DICT and CICC have pushed Meta, the parent company of Facebook and Instagram, to act faster against misinformation. In a recent coordination meeting, officials called for quicker takedown processes, better escalation systems, and stronger local content moderation.
“Speed matters, especially when misinformation can undermine institutions or disrupt elections,” said Assistant Secretary Renato “Aboy” A. Paraiso. “We’ve seen progress, and now we’re working together to strengthen what’s already in place.”
DICT Secretary Henry Aguda added that cultural context is key to effective moderation. “Filipino content carries nuance such as humor, sarcasm, and dialects that global teams might miss. Meta must invest in localized moderation,” he said.
Meta reported that it has removed thousands of fake accounts and pages, some originating abroad, for spreading disinformation. While DICT welcomed the effort, officials stressed that consistency and speed must still improve.
Join the ‘Digital Bayanihan’
Fighting disinformation takes more than government action. That is why DICT and Comelec urge every Filipino to join a “Digital Bayanihan,” a collective effort to keep the online space honest and safe. This includes double-checking information before sharing it, reporting suspicious or false content through the CICC hotline 1326, and promoting verified facts over fear or speculation. The initiative is part of Task Force Katotohanan, Katapatan, at Katarungan sa Halalan, or Task Force KKK sa Halalan, which was formed to protect online conversations during elections.
Democracy today is shaped not only at the polls, but also in comment sections, timelines, and private chats. As election day nears, the bigger challenge may be recognizing and pushing back against digital deception. Every fact-check, every callout, every pause before hitting “share” — these are the small acts that help safeguard the vote. In the age of AI, protecting democracy starts long before election day and continues well after.