Manila: Senate President Francis Escudero announced his proposal to criminalize the unauthorized use of an individual's likeness and identity through artificial intelligence (AI). He expressed concerns that AI-generated content is being misused to spread fake news, commit fraud, and endorse illegitimate products.
According to Philippines News Agency, Escudero introduced Senate Bill No. 782, also known as the Physical Identity Protection Act. The bill aims to impose jail terms, substantial fines, and permanent disqualification from public office for government officials found guilty of AI misuse. Escudero emphasized that while AI can be a valuable tool for education and business, it is being used by some to inflict harm and erode public trust.
The proposed legislation states that any individual who creates, generates, publishes, or distributes media content using another person's physical attributes without consent will be held criminally liable. This applies to all platforms and access points. Escudero pointed out that many politicians and businessmen have been falsely portrayed as endorsing products or investments due to unauthorized AI use.
The penalties for violators include one to two years of imprisonment or a fine up to PHP200,000, or both. If the misuse is for financial gain, the penalties increase to two to four years of imprisonment or a fine ranging from PHP200,000 to PHP400,000, or both. For facilitating crime or fraud, offenders may face four to six years of imprisonment or a fine between PHP400,000 and PHP600,000, or both. The most severe penalties, up to 12 years of imprisonment or a fine of PHP600,000 to PHP1 million, apply if the misuse is for profit and to commit fraud or other crimes.
Public officials found guilty under this bill would face perpetual disqualification from holding public office, in addition to the maximum penalties outlined. Escudero mentioned that exceptions to the law would be made for cases of good faith, such as media reportage, academic research, documentary work, and public interest disclosures.
