Asean must pursue law on responsible AI use – Speaker Dy

MANILA, Philippines — House of Representatives Speaker Faustino “Bojie” Dy III has urged the parliaments of Asean member-states to pursue a law on responsible use and governance of artificial intelligence (AI), as the technology can be used negatively like for terrorism and violent extremism.

In his keynote address during the parliamentary training course for AI on Wednesday, Dy said that the technology has become an integral part of daily life as it has enabled governments to serve people more efficiently and businesses to flourish.

The training course, with the theme “Parliaments Securing a Peaceful, Prosperous, and People-Centered ASEAN,” was organized by the House of Representatives as it currently holds the presidency of the Asean Inter-Parliamentary Assembly (AIPA).

Dy, however, noted that the development is a double-edged sword as it can be used to misinform the public.

“To confront them decisively, sustained cooperation among ASEAN member parliaments is essential, so that our laws, oversight, and shared standards move forward together,” Dy said.

“This theme reflects our conviction that parliaments are not merely legislative chambers, but guardians of peace, engines of prosperity, and champions of the people,” Dy added.

According to Dy, the Philippines has firsthand experience with the misuse of AI, leading to disinformation which undermines “trust in public institutions during elections and emergencies.”

To address this, Dy noted that the proposed Anti-Fake News and Disinformation Act has been listed as a priority bill by the Legislative Executive Development Advisory Council (Ledac).

READ: Marcos OKs 21 Ledac priority bills, including travel tax abolition

“In our case, we have begun to take steps to utilize technology to make legislative processes more efficient and transparent as part of our efforts to better serve our constituents,” he said. 

“These (extremists exploiting AI) are not distant possibilities. They are real cases already documented around the world.”

“We know these are threats we can no longer ignore,” he said.  “Public trust is built not only by preventing harm, but by ensuring that laws are fair, transparent, and accountable.”

He also called for sustained cooperation among ASEAN parliaments, noting that terrorism and violent extremism do not respect national borders.

This is not the first time that Dy spoke about AI in the context of Asean. 

Last January 20, at the program where the House of Representatives formally assumed presidency of the AIPA, Dy said that a people-centered policy-making will help the region address increasingly complex challenges, like economic uncertainty, security risks, and rapid technological change.

“A truly people-centered ASEAN begins with dignity. It means protecting vulnerable sectors, empowering women and youth, and recognizing the contributions of migrant workers. It also means preparing our societies for the future,” he said then.

“Technologies such as artificial intelligence offer real opportunities, but they require responsible governance to ensure that progress remains inclusive and human-centered.  When peace is secured, prosperity is shared, and people remain at the heart of policy, ASEAN moves forward with confidence—as a region that is resilient, connected, and governed by strong institutions,” he added.

READ: Speaker Dy stresses public trust mantra as PH assumes AIPA presidency

AI has been a staple topic at tech conventions worldwide.  At the GITEX Global 2025 held in Dubai, United Arab Emirates last October 2025, AI took centerstage as experts in the field — G42 chief executive officer Peng Xiao and OpenAI founder Sam Altman — said that the technology can no longer be considered a thing of the future as it is now utilized not only for fun, but to also shape different industries. /gsg