Interpol: Expect deepfakes surge in 2025 Phl elections

The International Criminal Police Organization (Interpol) believes the Philippines has to develop regulations on the use of deepfakes to minimize political deception in the 2025 midterm elections.

- ELIJAH FELICE ROSALES

At a forum led by cybersecurity giant Trend Micro, Interpol head of cybercrime intelligence unit Ivo de Carvalho Peixinho said the country can consider introducing regulations against deepfakes now that the country will hold midterm polls next year.

Deepfakes cover audio, images and videos that are edited through artificial intelligence or AI and they imitate the likeness or demeanor of certain personalities, such as celebrities and politicians, with the intent of misleading people.

Peixinho warned that deepfakes can be used to deceive people into believing that someone did or said something even when reality says otherwise. This becomes dangerous during elections, as it can be weaponized to trick voters.

“We need to push a little forward a talk about regulation. It is one thing for people to say that the opinion on the internet is fine, that people have different opinions, that we should just debate them,” he said.