MANILA, Philippines— The spread of artificial intelligence-generated content by government officials is raising alarm bells in the palace, as press officer Claire Castro emphasised Monday that such behaviour seriously erodes public trust. The remarks come after Sen. Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa and Davao City Mayor Sebastian “Baste” Duterte shared a questionable video that appeared to be AI-generated on their social media platforms.
Addressing the controversy during a press briefing, Castro did not mince words. “Sharing things like that again, disinformation, fake news should not be coming from government officials,” she said in Filipino. “It is concerning and erodes trust even more when disinformation and fake news come from high-ranking officials themselves.”
Viral Video Sparks Controversy
Over the weekend, a video depicting an “interview” with two male students circulated online. In the clip, the students explained why they opposed the impeachment of Vice President Sara Duterte. The video carried the hashtag #AI, suggesting it was generated by artificial intelligence, an implication confirmed by critics who quickly called out the misleading nature of the content.
Despite the suspicious origin, Senator Dela Rosa shared the video on Facebook with an inflammatory caption in Filipino, praising the students’ stance and taking a swipe at critics: “Good thing the kids understand what’s happening. Listen up, you yellows and communists!” Meanwhile, Mayor Duterte also posted the same video on his profile but has since deleted it.
Castro: Leaders’ Words Carry Weight
Castro underscored the particular responsibility of public figures when it comes to information dissemination. “This is their responsibility, because every word they say to the people they are leaders of is perceived as truth in the ears and eyes of everyone,” she stressed.
Given the level of influence that comes with public office, Castro argued that government officials must be especially careful about the authenticity of the content they share. “So now that they’ve done it and there’s nothing we can do about it, the least they can do is acknowledge that the video they shared is false and not authentic,” she added.
Disinformation in the Digital Age
The incident has reignited conversations about the growing threat of AI-generated misinformation and the role of influential figures in amplifying such content. As synthetic media becomes increasingly accessible and realistic, the potential for it to be weaponized in political discourse is becoming a real concern not only for fact-checkers and journalists but also for the public at large.
The controversy touches a deeper nerve in Philippine society, where political narratives often go viral and disinformation thrives in social media ecosystems. In such a context, the sharing of AI-generated videos by high-ranking officials is not just careless; it becomes a matter of national concern.
A Call for Digital Responsibility
While no formal penalties exist for public officials who share AI-generated content, the palace’s response suggests that expectations are shifting. Castro’s statement serves as a reminder that public service comes with the duty to uphold truth, particularly in the digital age, where misinformation can spread rapidly and influence public opinion in real time.
Although Mayor Duterte removed the video, no public acknowledgement or apology has yet been issued by either him or Senator Dela Rosa. Whether they will heed the palace’s call to accept responsibility remains to be seen.
As the Philippines and the world grapple with the evolving challenges posed by AI and digital disinformation, one message from the Palace rings clear: public officials are not just ordinary users of social media. Their words, posts, and shares carry the weight of authority, and with that comes the obligation to be truthful.
For now, the conversation continues: how should leaders navigate the AI era responsibly, and what safeguards must be in place to ensure technology is not used to distort truth for political gain?
