DICT, Google joining forces vs fake news

MANILA, Philippines — Digital literacy campaigns and content moderation to combat fake news will be enhanced through a partnership between the Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) and Google Philippines.

“This is a teamwork for truth. Together, we’re building stronger defenses against disinformation and giving every Filipino the tools to thrive in the digital world,” DICT Secretary Henry Rhoel Aguda said in a joint statement with Yves Gonzalez, head of Google Philippines public policy and government relations.

At Wednesday’s meeting, the DICT and Google Philippines agreed to coordinate for stronger online safeguards, smarter artificial intelligence tools and digital empowerment nationwide.

Under this partnership, Google will strengthen detection of AI-powered content, enhance human moderation and tighten the enforcement of YouTube community guidelines.

A rapid-response channel flagging harmful and illegal online content will be launched by the DICT Cybercrime Investigation and Coordinating Center.

“This partnership reflects a strong model of responsible digital governance and private-sector accountability — a necessary foundation in building a safe, trusted, and inclusive digital Philippines,” the joint statement read.

The partnership also kicked off DigiBayanihan 2.0, a grassroots digital literacy campaign supported by Google Philippines and led by the Asia Society for Social Improvement and Sustainable Transformation.

Aligned with the DICT’s flagship Digital Bayanihan agenda, the program will teach practical digital skills to communities in the Visayas and Mindanao.

West Philippine Sea

A “technical issue” led to the temporary disappearance of the West Philippine Sea on Google’s web mapping service, the tech giant said yesterday.

“The label was temporarily missing due to a technical issue — it's now back on Maps,” a Google spokesperson told The STAR.

On Wednesday, Google Maps users noted that the label went missing weeks after it generated buzz online.

In an earlier statement, Google said “the West Philippine Sea has always been labeled on Google Maps.”

“We recently made this label easier to see at additional zoom levels,” it said.

Philippine state officials have welcomed the update that drew criticisms from Beijing, which claims virtually the entire South China Sea.

In 2024, the Philippines passed the Maritime Zones Act, wherein “maritime zones... on the western side of the... archipelago, including the Luzon Sea and territorial seas of Bajo de Masinloc and maritime features of the Kalayaan Island Group, shall be collectively called the West Philippine Sea.” — Janvic Mateo