‘Refrain from using AI image generators’

Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro Jr. has issued a memorandum order directing all employees of the Department of National Defense and personnel of the Armed Forces of the Philippines to refrain from using Artificial Intelligence photo generator applications, which may pose significant security risks.

In an interview on Friday, DND spokesperson Arsenio Andolong said Teodoro's internal order was primarily intended for the defense department and its attached agencies.

"In light of the fact that the risks and threats posed by these AI applications have not yet been established with certainty, the Secretary of National Defense has deemed it prudent to advise our personnel and the bureaus, especially the AFP, to refrain from using these apps," Andolong said.

"We all know that the defense department and its attached bureaus have many high-profile personalities among us, and any violation of their privacy, of the theft of their data and their identities, poses a great risk to them," he said.

He added that such actions might have security implications amid the current state of available technologies.

"I will not venture more into that because I'm not an IT expert, but this could be used for activities that may lead to compromising our national security," Andolong added.

In a memorandum order dated 18 October, Teodoro warned that AI-powered applications seemed "harmless and amusing" but could be "maliciously used" to create fake profiles that could lead to identity theft, social media engineering, phishing attacks, and other erring activities, which could compromise someone's personal data.

He said there had been a report of such a case.

"The online trending digital application that uses Artificial Intelligence, which requires its users to submit at least 10 photos of themselves to generate an enhanced portrait, poses significant privacy and security risks. This application compiles its users' data and creates a digital person that mimics how a real individual speaks and moves," he said.