The APEC Business Advisory Council (ABAC) has called for enhanced regional cooperation to protect Filipinos and the wider Asia-Pacific region from the rise of artificial intelligence (AI)-enabled scams and deepfakes.
The council emphasized that preparing Filipino workers, professionals, entrepreneurs, and students for the opportunities and risks presented by AI will be essential to ensuring the country remains competitive and that more Filipinos can benefit from the next wave of technological transformation.
During its third meeting, the council adopted recommendations focused on aligning modern data legislation to support the responsible deployment of AI, with the aim of strengthening the national governance framework and building public trust.
The push for stricter oversight comes as cybercriminals increasingly utilize AI to generate deepfakes, impersonate individuals, and execute phishing and investment scams, which often operate across multiple jurisdictions.
Closer policy coordination and law enforcement collaboration are essential to safeguarding digital transactions, and the council stressed the need for human capital development to address the challenges posed by AI.
The council also suggested that the country invest in AI education and workforce upskilling, and leverage the expertise of other APEC economies to better equip Filipinos for technological shifts.
