PCO partners with CICC in combating fake news, deepfakes

The Presidential Communications Office (PCO) on Thursday disclosed its partnership with the Cybercrime Investigation and Coordinating Center (CICC) to combat fake news. 

During a Palace press briefing, CICC Undersecretary Alex Ramos said an agreement was signed between the two agencies to heighten measures against deepfakes and disinformation in the society.

''So, part ng aming effort, ito ay isang pag-establish ng multisectoral campaign to empower the public and various schools, institutions, stakeholders to decisively combat proliferation of deepfakes and disinformation,'' Ramos said. 

(Part of our effort is to establish a multisectoral campaign to empower the public and various schools, institutions, stakeholders to decisively combat proliferation of deepfakes and disinformation.) 

''There are certain pillars that you have to understand, ‘no. Mayroon tayong pag-create ng National Deepfake Task Force sa pangunguna ng Presidential Communications Office; ito ho ay susuportahan ng CICC, DICT, NBI and other government offices na tutulong sa pagsugpo nitong mga disinformation drive not only against the government but against the individuals here in the country,'' he added. 

(There's the creation of the National Deepfake Task Force, which will be led by the Presidential Communications Office. This will be supported by the CICC, DICT, NBI and other government offices in fighting disinformation not only against the government but against the individuals here in the country.) 

Ramos said the CICC had tested a tool, which will be distributed to the stakeholders, that can identify deepfake content. He said the CICC has already coordinated with the Commission on Elections as the midterm elections near.

He also said the tool—an app—will be distributed to accredited partners to "decentralize" the process.

"Wala tayong pinipili, so our target is independent fact-checkers. Hindi ho gobyerno ang nagsasabi, yung community mismo ang magsasabi, 'This is a deepfake'," he said.

(We will not be selective, so our target is independent fact-checkers. The government will not be the one to say "This is a deepfake" but the community.)

Ramos said this would be a ''local discernment tool to help the public to really have a proper discernment'' in the elections. 

''Right now, we are in the accreditation process. Nakipagkasundo na kami sa Comelec kasi ang unang tatamaan nito ay iyong eleksyon natin. So, we have established certain dates for training on how to use it so all regions will have the capability,'' Ramos said. 

(Right now, we are in the accreditation process. We have partnered with the Comelec because this is in time for our elections. So, we have established certain dates for training on how to use it so all regions will have the capability.)

Deepfakes are generated through artificial intelligence (AI) and they can copy a person's likeness, make them speak in other languages, or deliver a false message to viewers. — BM, GMA Integrated News

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