Mainly government agencies from the health and demographic sectors in the spotlight, but also data relating to public safety. Spikes in disinformation fueled by artificial intelligence have also been detected at times of heightened tension in the South China Sea.
Manila () – Despite the positive results shown by the latest international reports, cybersecurity is a serious problem for the Philippines, a country that has become a hotbed of transnational crime related to the misuse of the Internet. Domestic needs, media and international pressure are forcing the Marcos government to make it a priority, and the initiatives undertaken so far show some successes but still many limitations.
In fact, the archipelago is strongly affected by the negative trends transmitted by the Internet. Firstly, the growing global polarization associated with technologies that tend to limit or divert the truth from the facts. Secondly, the enormous flow of misinformation due to trolling activities, increasingly sophisticated social engineering techniques with the development of Artificial Intelligence. All of these activities also undermine democratic principles, starting with freedom of vote and expression, as well as the independence of the media. Furthermore, as the World Economic Forum’s 2024 Global Risk report points out, disinformation is rapidly making its way into public consciousness and current geopolitical tensions associated with increasingly sophisticated technology risk creating new and profound conditions of crisis and conflict that until now have been little taken into account and even less adequately addressed on a global scale.
The Philippines – where widespread use of social media is combined with poor technological protection of data and online security – is statistically among the countries most affected by cyberattacks. According to the American cybersecurity company Resecurity, in the first quarter of 2024 they experienced a 325% increase in attacks compared to the same period in 2023. Government agencies in the health and demographic sectors in particular are the target, but also public safety data. Deepfake-enabled fraud saw 4,500% growth in 2022-2023, as identified by the latest biennial Statistica-Sumsub Identity Fraud report.
Finally, it was found that the peaks of disinformation fueled by artificial intelligence occurred at the same time as the evolution of the tense situation with China over the areas claimed by the latter in the South China Sea (West Philippine Sea, according to the official name of Manila).
A situation that has also called the authorities to more incisive action: not in vain, the United Nations Global Cybersecurity Index 2024 showed the country’s jump from 61st to 53rd place worldwide in terms of cybersecurity compared to 2020, with which went from the third to the second level of the three considered. The entry into force last April of the National Cybersecurity Plan 2023-2028 is expected to show new progress.
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