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‘Malicious’: Philippine officials slam deepfake video of Marcos Jnr allegedly doing drugs

  • Analysts say the technology used to make the video represents an increasingly serious threat to the Philippines

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Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jnr delivers his annual State of the Nation Address in Manila on July 22, 2024. Photo: AFP

A viral video allegedly showing Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jnr doing drugs has caused serious concern among government officials, who called it a “maliciously crude attempt” to undermine his government.

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Analysts warn that the deepfake technology likely used to make the video represents an increasingly serious threat to the Philippines, which has already seen several other high-profile instances of AI being used to generate disinformation meant to cause political instability.

The new viral video was released by Duterte supporters during a rally in the United States before Marcos Jnr’s State of the Nation Address on Monday, according to the Department of National Defence.

“The obviously fake video being circulated emanating from a Maisug gathering in Los Angeles is again a maliciously crude attempt to destabilise the administration of President Marcos Jnr. They will not succeed!” defence ministry spokesman Arsenio Andolong said in a statement.

Maisug, which means brave, is a group associated with the Duterte family.

A screengrab of the deepfake video allegedly showing Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jnr doing drugs. Photo: Handout
A screengrab of the deepfake video allegedly showing Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jnr doing drugs. Photo: Handout

Defence Secretary Gilberto Teodoro Jnr assured the public the military would continue to support Marcos Jnr’s administration and follow the chain of command.

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