PBBM to tackle misinformation, disinformation at 4th SONA – Palace

By Ruth Abbey Gita-Carlos, Philippine News Agency

FILE: President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. delivers his #SONA2024 before a joint session of Congress at the Batasang Pambansa in Quezon City on Monday (July 22, 2024). (PNA Photo by Joan Bondoc)

MANILA – The rise of misinformation and disinformation on social media is one of the issues that may be raised on President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.’s fourth State of the Nation Address (SONA), Malacañang said on Friday.

This, as concerned government agencies, including the Presidential Communications Office (PCO) and the Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) prepares to take down artificial intelligence (AI)-altered versions of Marcos’ SONA that will be posted on social media to sow public confusion.

“Sa ngayon po ay wala pa po tayong detalye at malamang po sa SONA ay makakasama po ito dahil noon pong nagkaroon ng statement ang Pangulo noong Independence Day, binanggit niya rin po ang patungkol sa (Right now, we don’t have any details and it’s likely that this will be included in the SONA because when the President made a statement on Independence Day, he also mentioned the issue of) fake news,” Palace Press Officer Claire Castro told reporters.

On Thursday, House Secretary General Reginald Velasco said the PCO and the DICT made a commitment to be on the lookout for the AI-generated posts intended to distort Marcos’ actual message in his 2025 SONA.

It could be recalled that Marcos fell victim of an AI-generated deepfake video which was released just before his third SONA last year.

Marcos will be delivering his fourth SONA at the session hall of the House of Representatives at the Batasang Pambansa Complex in Quezon City on July 28.

In his speech during the 127th Independence Day celebration, Marcos urged his fellow Filipinos to protect the nation from fake news and misinformation, saying these are the “scourges of our freedom.”

Marcos also expressed dismay that some are propagating false information for the interest of others and not for the welfare of Filipinos.