As the May 2025 midterm elections approach, the proliferation of deepfakes and cyberattacks is expected to escalate, posing a significant threat to democratic processes and national security.
The Cybercrime Investigation and Coordinating Center (CICC) has already observed a disturbing surge, detecting between 200 to 300 deepfakes daily. These synthetic media—often manipulated videos or audio recordings—can spread disinformation, manipulate public opinion, and undermine trust in political candidates and institutions.
CICC Executive Director Alexander K. Ramos highlighted the urgency of addressing this issue, noting that the upcoming elections could be drastically affected by the growing sophistication of AI-driven deception.
“Elections are just a few weeks away, and that’s what we need to focus on,” Ramos warned at the “Forging Collaborative Cyber Resilience” conference in Makati City, underscoring the vital need to strengthen defenses against cyber threats.
As deepfakes become more realistic and harder to detect, the CICC is collaborating with government agencies, tech firms, media organizations, and civil society to form a nationwide task force. This initiative aims to curb the spread of malicious content and build robust reporting mechanisms.
Recently, the CICC has also acquired advanced software capable of detecting deepfakes within 30 seconds with 95 percent accuracy.
With cyberattacks targeting critical infrastructure and democratic institutions, the 2025 elections could see a dramatic rise in disinformation campaigns, Ramos said. The collective efforts of various sectors will be crucial in ensuring the integrity of the electoral process and the security of the nation’s future, he added.
