Don’t look now but someone, or should it be something, is watching over you in cyberspace. Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) Secretary Ivan Uy specifically delivered this public assurance amid the rising incidence of “deep fakes,” misinformation and disinformation activities proliferating online in the run-up to the country’s forthcoming national and local elections this May 12.
Uy echoed these reassurances during our Kapihan sa Manila Bay news forum last Wednesday, a few days after a more advanced artificial intelligence (AI) technology called DeepSeek of China broke out and disrupted the biggest tech companies in the United States. While the Philippines is not far behind in technology advancements, the DICT Secretary noted with concern that such developments also bring along tech-driven criminal activities.
Uy pointed to the trend of cyber-related crimes that have crept up and are close to dislodging illegal drug cases. It particularly kicked up, he noted, during the height of online gaming operations that became “cyber scam hubs” in our country. It was nipped in the bud, so to speak, after President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. ended last Dec. 31, 2024 the state-issued franchises of all Philippine offshore gaming operators (POGOs).
Like the rest of technologically advanced countries, Uy conceded the Philippines likewise suffers from “threat actors” such as online fraudsters, text scammers and other tech-driven criminals who ply their illegal trade with impunity in the borderless cyber world. But the DICT, he vowed, is well equipped not only with technology-savvy personnel but also sophisticated gadgets. He declined to elaborate for obvious reasons.
Suffice it to say, Uy believes the DICT can capably safeguard the state’s capability in protecting public interests and national security. Thus, he welcomed the P50-million intelligence fund provided in this year’s budget of the DICT. Although the amount is not that much, Uy cited it will go a long way to further strengthen the inter-agency capability of the government in combatting cyber predators.
Last Jan. 21, the Cybercrime Investigation and Coordinating Center (CICC) chaired by the DICT Secretary was able to neutralize the operations of a Malaysian national who has been supplying and selling in our country a high regulated security gadget called “IMSI” (International Mobile Subscriber Identity) catcher. An IMSI catcher is a cellular wiretapping device that mimics or copies the signal from a cell tower. It is described as an “intrusive” gadget that can be used to locate and track mobile phones that are switched on in a certain area.
According to the DICT chief, it is considered illegal to sell or own an IMSI catcher if one has no clearance from the proper government agencies like the Bureau of Customs, the National Telecommunications Commission (NTC) as well as from the Philippine National Police (PNP).
CICC executive director Alexander Ramos presented to the press the suspect, Thiang Choon Wee, reported to be the ringleader of a syndicate that smuggles here IMSI catchers. Under surveillance since October last year, Ramos revealed the suspect was caught red-handed by the joint operations of the CICC, PNP’s Anti Cybercrime Group, the Bureau of Immigration and the NTC.
Initial investigations pointed to this syndicate that has been supplying IMSI catchers used in “love scams” and in other cyber fraud cases. The CICC probers are tracking down the backgrounds of the syndicate’s prospective clients on suspicions the IMSI catchers might be used as “tools to influence votes” in the coming elections here in the Philippines.
Meanwhile, Uy announced the DICT has been in close coordination with the Commission on Elections (Comelec) in ensuring glitch-free holding of our country’s upcoming mid-term elections. With the Comelec using the latest technology contracted from Miru Systems of South Korea, Uy warned the public to be wary of their online posts in social media platforms.
Politicians are also stepping up their campaign tactics in cyberspace. The DICT Secretary encouraged tech-savvy election watchdogs to join forces with volunteer groups like ScamWatch Pilipinas. Jocel de Guzman, convenor of ScamWatch Pilipinas, commits to help the government in vigilant guarding of our automated electoral processes.
Uy admitted difficulties to tracking down IMSI catchers. These gadgets used to be installed or moving around inside campaign vehicles used in the past elections here. Now, he noted with concern, the latest model of IMSI catchers can be carried in backpacks. He shared the experience of an unnamed top business executive whose mobile phone got copied by a backpacked IMSI catcher that apparently got near him inside a mall.
The fraudster texted his treasurer in Manila to remit company funds to a bank account in London where he is supposedly waiting to make payment for their business partner. Seeing the mobile phone numbers and name of his boss on the sending text message, the treasurer prepared all the documents for the purported payee. As he was about to remit the amount, the treasurer decided to make an international call to check and verify directly from his boss. “What are you talking about? I’m here in the Philippines,” Uy quoted the boss.
But not all could be as lucky to get out unscathed from such scams. Uy cautioned everyone that even the most tech-savvy and most careful person can fall victim. With the sophistication and scale of technology, the DICT Secretary underscored the need to practice “digital hygiene” as the most important protection. In simple layman’s language, Uy likened “digital hygiene” to washing one’s hands before eating food or taking meals. Think before you click, verify and check, he urged.
Uy further advised the public against becoming unwitting carriers of potential malware viruses, hacking, “deep fakes” and other forms of cyberattacks. In particular, the DICT chief cautioned anew the public against clicking online links that come through text messages received from their mobile or cellular phones, Facebook posts, X accounts and others.
To protect the public from becoming cyber preys, the DICT Secretary issued this terse warning to those he calls “threat actors” in cyberspace.
“We’re watching you,” DICT Secretary Uy warned.