Marcos to DICT chief: Focus on cybersecurity, internet connectivity
MANILA, Philippines — President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. ordered Information and Communications Technology Secretary Henry Aguda to focus on internet connectivity, digitalization and cybersecurity.
Palace Press Officer Claire Castro shared the development during a Friday briefing when asked of the directive given to the new Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) chief.
READ: Marcos names digital technocrat Henry Aguda new DICT chief
Castro said that cyberattacks have been prevalent and evident in the country.
“That’s why the first directive of the President to the newly-appointed DICT secretary is the administration’s digitalization program,” Castro said in Filipino.
“Even the internet connectivity across the country and of course cyber security needs focus, especially during the campaign period,” she added.
She also noted that the Presidential Communications Office (PCO) will coordinate with the DICT to prevent the spread of false information.
“It’s not just the PCO but all agencies concerned on the spread of fake news. We will all coordinate to combat fake news,” Castro said.
DICT Undersecretary Jeff Dy previously said that the department was anticipating more cyberattacks as the midterm elections were drawing near.
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Dy shared that election-related posts may be amplified by “bots,” therefore infiltrating the algorithm of social media users. Bots, also called internet robots, are automated computer programs that do repetitive tasks.
Dy also pointed out a loophole where operating a troll farm is not illegal as “there is no social media regulation.”
The DICT earlier said that it deployed teams to monitor and report disinformation, misinformation, and deepfakes for the elections.
