DILG: 911 hotline ready vs AI prank calls

MANILA, Philippines — The Unified 911 system can now detect and filter prank calls generated and automated by artificial intelligence, according to the Department of the Interior and Local Government.

Patterns linked to AI-generated calls and robo-dialing used for prank or misleading reports can be recognized by the upgraded system, Emergency 911 National Office executive director Francis Fajardo said.

Prank and abandoned calls dropped by 98.3 percent after the launch of the modernized system in September 2025, Fajardo said.

Suspicious or non-emergency calls still consume system capacity and can delay response to legitimate distress calls, he added.

Phone numbers that repeatedly place suspicious or non-emergency calls can be tracked by the system, Fajardo said.

Unnecessary calls pose risks to people who are in need of assistance, Fajardo reminded the public.