Crackdown or Censorship? New Philippine 'Dashboard' to Target Deepfakes
The government is teaming up with major telcos to launch a so-called "unified dashboard" in July 2025 that aims to crack down on deepfakes and illegal content online. According to Information and Communications Technology Secretary Henry Aguda, this tool will allow authorities and telecom companies to track and quickly block sites linked to deepfakes, as well as pornography.
The idea is to act fast. Once an IP address or domain is flagged, telcos are expected to remove it immediately. Aguda stressed that waiting even a day could already result in irreversible damage. This real-time dashboard is set to monitor takedowns and show exactly when illegal content was removed. Telcos will be responsible for the technical side, while agencies like the National Telecommunications Commission (NTC), the Cybercrime Investigation and Coordinating Center (CICC), and the National Privacy Commission (NPC) will handle the policies.
But here’s where things start to raise eyebrows. While deepfakes are a growing issue online, most of them don’t come from obscure websites. They’re often seen as sponsored content or fake ads, especially on major platforms like Facebook. Many wonder why those platforms are still letting those paid posts slide through. Is it just about ad money?
Aguda also revealed that the Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) is set to meet with top social media companies. Part of the discussion involves "geo-blocking," a method that limits access to content depending on your location. While it’s used by streaming sites to manage access, the government now sees it as a possible tool against deepfake content.
This brings up some valid concerns. Is this just about stopping fake media, or are we starting to slide into something more like digital censorship? It's not the first time a proposal to “protect” the public has raised red flags for possibly restricting access to content in general, not just the dangerous stuff.
As always, it’s important to stay informed and critical. While safety online is important, transparency and accountability should never be compromised in the name of protection.
(via Philippine News Agency)
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