Manila: The government has partnered with telecommunication companies (telcos) to launch a 'unified dashboard' next month, aiming to strengthen the fight against deepfakes, Information and Communications Technology Secretary Henry Aguda announced Wednesday.

According to Philippines News Agency, the telcos are responsible for the technical design of the dashboard framework, while the National Telecommunications Commission (NTC), the Cybercrime Investigation and Coordinating Center (CICC), and the National Privacy Commission (NPC) will handle policy and regulatory aspects. Aguda explained that the final design would be completed this month, with implementation expected next month, promising a significant reduction in the prevalence of such harmful content.

The dashboard will enable the government and telcos to monitor and eliminate Internet Protocol (IP) addresses linked to deepfakes and pornography sites. Aguda emphasized the importance of prompt action, stating that delays in removing flagged content could lead to irreversible damage. He noted that the real-time reporting feature would ensure efficient monitoring and removal of illegal sites.

Aguda also shared that the Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) plans to meet with major social media platforms as part of efforts to counter deepfakes. The DICT will be briefed on geo-blocking technology, which restricts access to online content based on geographical location, as a method to manage content and prevent deepfake manipulation.

He expressed confidence that social media platforms would be receptive to adopting technical solutions, similar to the agreement reached with telcos, to proactively prevent the spread of deepfakes.