Solon: Gov’t officials must be ‘source of truth,’ not of fake AI videos
Lanao del Sur 1st District Rep. Zia Adiong finds “worrisome” a public official who is sharing a video generated by artificial intelligence (AI) that misinforms the public. Photo from Adiong X page.
MANILA, Philippines — Lanao del Sur 1st District Rep. Zia Adiong finds “worrisome” a public official who is sharing a video generated by artificial intelligence (AI) that misinforms the public.
Adiong made this comment on Thursday when he was asked to react to Vice President Sara Duterte’s statement that she finds no issue in sharing AI-generated content as long as it is not used for profit.
Adiong emphasized that public officials must be a source of truth to the people’s right to information.
READ: VP Duterte: OK to share AI content provided it’s not for profit
“Kailangan kasi natin yung (We need an) online space natin would be an extension of a national discourse, public discourse to seek the truth and to seek only the truth,” Adiong told reporters in an online interview.
“So I guess somehow, an official who’s been sharing an AI-generated clip, that’s somehow misinformed the public, is to me worrisome siya (is worrisome to me),” Adiong added.
Senator Ronald “Bato” Dela Rosa drew flak over the weekend after sharing what appeared to be an AI-generated video. The video featured an “interview” with two male students, who explained why they did not support the impeachment case of Duterte.
READ: Dela Rosa ridiculed over AI video on Sara Duterte impeachment
Despite the caption bearing “#AI,” Dela Rosa wrote in his post: “Mabuti pa ang mga bata, nakakaintindi sa mga pangyayari. Makinig kayo, mga yellow at mga komunista!”
Adiong then emphasized the need to combat the spread of false information, noting that many countries are battling the spread of misinformation, disinformation, and malinformation that AI mostly generates.
“I guess ang kailangan talaga natin ay sugpuin kung ano man ang pwedeng pagkunan ng mga impormasyong hindi tama at mali para sa pagbibigay respeto sa mga kababayan na ang narereceive lang nila na impormasyon ay yung dapat lang nila na matanggap at yung tama nilang malaman,” Adiong said.
(I guess what we need is to combat whatever source of false information to give respect to the public that they must only receive truthful information.)
Meanwhile, Palace Press Officer Claire Castro on Monday said that government officials should not share “fake news” online as it erodes public trust following the sharing of Dela Rosa and Sebastian Duterte of AI-generated video online.
Castro also emphasized that public officials must be responsible for what they repost online, as they can influence others in doing so./coa
