Filipina cybersecurity expert champions women’s fight against tech abuse

In time of the Women’s Month celebration this March, a Filipina cybersecurity expert underlined the critical role of education in combating gender-based violence through technology abuse.

Speaking at a forum organized by UN Women, the Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT), and the Australian Embassy, Gogolook Philippines Country Head Mel Migriño stressed that awareness is essential for Filipinos as they navigate the online world, especially for those seeking public office.

"Educating Filipinos, especially female political candidates, about the risks associated with election campaigns — including election-related scams and deepfakes — is crucial," Migriño said.

The event, titled “Disinformed, Disempowered, Disenfranchised: How Technology-Facilitated Gender-Based Violence Keeps Women from Politics — And What We Can Do About It,” tackled the barriers women face online and how technology-facilitated gender-based violence challenges impact their participation in politics and leadership.

Migriño, who also serves as the chairperson and president of Women in Security Alliance Philippines (WiSAP), a non-profit organization dedicated to empowering women in the cyber ecosystem, discussed cyber threats affecting women.

"If I may share, the most common and rampant cyber threats today include scams and deepfakes, cyber harassment, online sexual assault, character impersonation, revenge porn — where an ex-partner shares intimate photo without consent — and cyberbullying," she said. 

She further pointed out that these cyber threats can be mitigated with proper protection measures.

Migriño also took the opportunity to educate attendees about the growing threat of online scams and shared practical tips on how women can safeguard themselves from cyber threats while navigating the digital landscape.

"Be able to identify red flags that may lead to character attacks or harassment. Avoid engaging with online strangers or unverified identities. Research the profile of the person you are communicating with,” she explained.

“Be cautious of suspicious web domains and URLs — use web link scanners like VirusTotal (VT) or the Whoscall mobile app to assess risks and take necessary action. Most importantly, exercise your right to privacy," she added.

Gogolook, a global leader in TrustTech, is the developer of Whoscall, a globally used anti-scam application. It has gained popularity in the Philippines for helping Filipinos stay safe while navigating the online world, where scams are rampant.

Migriño highlighted key features of the Whoscall App — Web Checker, Caller ID, and ID Security — as essential tools in helping women protect themselves against online threats.

More technological development

Answering a question from the moderator, Migriño emphasized that the role of tech companies, government agencies, and civil society in creating safer online spaces for women politicians is the continuous process of development.

"For tech companies, it’s about the continuous development of tools with algorithms that can detect and prevent harassment of women in digital spaces," she said.

She further stressed the importance of government policies, saying, "Tech companies should align with policies set forth by the government as part of a comprehensive gender mainstreaming program. Additionally, they must ensure that the technology they develop is secure to prevent the infiltration of malicious code, which could compromise AI algorithms and distort analysis or inference."