Progressive, IT groups criticize a senator for spreading AI-generated ‘fake news’
By AARON ERNEST CRUZ
Bulatlat.com
RODRIGUEZ, Rizal – Sen. Ronald “Bato” Dela Rosa received backlash from progressive IT expert groups and netizens after sharing an artificial intelligence (AI)-generated video opposing the impeachment of Vice President Sara Duterte.
Dela Rosa shared an AI-generated video of two students opposing the impeachment trial of Duterte using his Facebook page on June 15.
Davao City mayor Sebastian “Baste” Duterte, sibling of Sara Duterte, also shared the same video on the same day.
Computer Professionals’ Union (CPU), an organization of Information and Communications Technology (ICT) professionals and advocates, in a statement expressed alarm on the use of AI-generated content propagating false information for political gains and interest.
CPU raised two points in addressing the use of AI-generated contents.
First, they said that generative AI technology has reached a point where it can produce videos that appear to be real. They said that this is being used to spread disinformation, especially during the last election where red-tagging cases occurred.
Second, the CPU said that government officials should be held to a high standard when it comes to spreading disinformation, including AI-generated deepfakes. They added that Dela Rosa’s sharing of false information through his social media followers without any accountability “will only encourage the use and abuse of generative AI for malicious purposes.”
According to CPU, the video was created on Google Veo 3, an AI tool used to create realistic video, and was already flagged as false information by a third-party fact checkers on Facebook.
‘Short on natural intelligence’
Veteran journalist and convenor of Movement Against Tyranny, Vergel Santos also reacted to Dela Rosa’s sharing of AI-generated content by saying that it is “understandable [because] people short on natural intelligence rely on artificial intelligence.”
Dela Rosa defended his sharing of the AI-generated content as what he agrees with is the message “and not the messenger.” Duterte also backed Dela Rosa and said that it is fine to use AI to oppose her impeachment trial as long as it is not used for profit.
For Kabataan Partylist Rep. Raoul Manuel, Dela Rosa’s credibility as a senator is questionable for having a hard time distinguishing a real video from an AI-generated one. “If he doesn’t know how to critically assess a Facebook video, how much more when it comes to evidence in a case? He really should inhibit himself from being a senator-judge,” Manuel said in Filipino.
“The message matters, yes. And Bato’s message to the youth is that it’s okay to deceive as long as you get what you want. That’s the mindset of a thief and a criminal,” Manuel added.
In a survey by the Social Weather Station, at least, 59 percent of Filipinos consider disinformation as a serious concern and 65 percent of them also find it hard to distinguish if the information contains fact or not.
Manuel said that using fake students to show that the youth is against the impeachment of the vice president is a desperate move. “From red-tagging to AI deepfakes, the public suffers from the fake news spread by Bato and the Dutertes. The youth will fight for the truth! We call on the Senate: proceed with the impeachment trial now!” (AMU, DAA)
The post Progressive, IT groups criticize a senator for spreading AI-generated ‘fake news’ appeared first on Bulatlat.
Leave a Comment