House bill seeks heftier fines for use of deepfake technolog...

MANILA, Philippines -- Three House lawmakers are seeking a heavier penalty for the use of deepfake technology in committing crimes and offenses. Cavite Reps. Lani Mercado-Revilla and Ramon Revilla III, and Agimat party list Rep. Bryan Revilla filed House Bill No. 9425, or proposed Penalizing Deepfake Act, to "establish clearer parameters for determining the appropriate legal consequences for deepfake-related actions." In their explanatory note to HB 9425, the lawmakers conceded that "Deepfakes, in and of themselves, are not inherently illegal. In fact, they offer valuable potential for positive applications." "However, the legality of deepfakes depends on their content, as they can infringe upon copyrights, violate data protection, defame individuals, and intrude upon privacy," they noted, adding, "It is troubling that a significant proportion of online deepfake content, approximately...