Speaker Faustino Di Jr. on Wednesday appealed to lawmakers in the ASEAN region to enact laws to prevent the use of artificial intelligence and emerging technologies by terrorist and extremist groups.
In his keynote speech at the ASEAN Inter-Parliamentary Assembly (AIPA) parliamentary training course on legislative measures against AI-driven extremism, Dai said AI can be a powerful tool for growth if harnessed properly.
“In our case, as part of our efforts to better serve our constituents, we have begun to take steps to leverage technology to make the legislative process more efficient and transparent,” said the Isabella representative.
He cited examples of extremist groups using social media, deepfake content, encrypted platforms and AI-driven tools to advance their goals, adding that global experience shows that new technologies can be misused.
He said the Philippines has “first-hand experience” in the misuse of digital platforms, especially in elections and emergencies, to spread disinformation, sow fear and undermine trust in public institutions.
He emphasized that the anti-fake news and disinformation bill will be included as one of the Marcos administration’s legislative priorities, and vowed to pass it in the 20th Congress.
Mr Dee said security measures must go hand in hand with safeguards to protect rights and build public confidence.
He called for continued cooperation between ASEAN parliaments, noting that terrorism and violent extremism do not respect borders.
“To confront them decisively, sustained cooperation between ASEAN member states’ parliaments is essential so that our laws, oversight and common standards move forward together,” he said.
At the same meeting, ASEAN Affairs Task Force Senior Vice Chair and Pangasinan Rep. Maria Rachel Arenas said the region faces a hybrid threat environment.
He noted that violent extremist forces operate within the digital and information ecosystem, leveraging online platforms such as radicalization, AI-generated disinformation, encrypted communications, and digital finance.
Arenas added that an unequal framework weakens collective counterterrorism efforts.
He noted that governments also rely on AI systems for intelligence, border control, surveillance and public safety, stressing the need for clear security measures.
“In this interconnected environment, fragmented or outdated national laws can create regulatory arbitrage, a gap that malicious actors deliberately exploit by operating from jurisdictions with weaker safeguards,” Arenas said.
The training course, held at the House of Representatives, was themed “Parliament to ensure a peaceful, prosperous and people-centered ASEAN”.
The Philippines currently holds the chairmanship of the ASEAN Parliament.
