Cybersecurity webinar slated to address rising cybercrimes               

CEBU, Philippines — Fiber broadband and technology provider Converge ICT Solutions Inc. is inviting the public to join its cybersecurity webinar today, February 14, 2025, to gain valuable insights and protect themselves against the growing threats of cybercrime.

Scheduled for 10:00 AM, the webinar aims to reinforce Converge’s efforts to combat cybercrime as artificial intelligence (AI) increasingly plays a role in online scams and illicit activities.

Titled "Building Resilience Against Online Scams," the online event will feature Converge Chief Executive Advisor Eugene Yeo, a seasoned technology expert with extensive experience in digital transformation projects across leading firms in Singapore.

Yeo will highlight the growing use of AI in cybercrime, emphasizing the importance of deploying AI-driven countermeasures to strengthen digital defenses.

“These malicious agents are no longer individuals but AI-powered entities,” Yeo said. “At Converge, we are actively blocking illicit attempts to infiltrate our network. However, a more effective approach is leveraging AI to counteract AI-driven threats—an initiative we have integrated into our internal cybersecurity protocols,” he added.

In 2024 alone, Converge intercepted a record 183 billion cyber intrusion attempts linked to 683,000 flagged URLs and domains—an 18-fold increase from the 10-12 billion blocked between 2021 and 2023.

As part of its commitment to online safety, Converge has been at the forefront of initiatives to combat Online Sexual Abuse and Exploitation of Children (OSAEC) and other digital threats. Since 2022, it has partnered with the Philippine-based Stairway Foundation and the Internet Watch Foundation to monitor and block harmful content.

These efforts align with government concerns, as highlighted during the Department of Justice’s (DOJ) Safer Internet Day 2025 event on February 11. DOJ officials expressed alarm over AI’s role in generating exploitative content, reinforcing the broad legal definitions of Child Sexual Abuse or Exploitation Materials (CSAEM).

In support of regulatory advancements, Converge’s webinar will also feature Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) Undersecretary and Cybercrime Investigation and Coordinating Center (CICC) Executive Director Alexander Ramos, who will discuss proposed amendments to the Anti-Cybercrime Law. Additionally, Converge’s Corporate Compliance and Data Protection Officer, Atty. Laurice Esteban-Tuason, will outline the company’s robust data privacy measures.

“As part of our sustainability commitment, cybersecurity remains integral to safeguarding our customers, operations, and the broader digital ecosystem. A secure online environment contributes to long-term digital sustainability,” said Esteban-Tuason.

Further strengthening its consumer education efforts, Converge has partnered with the NGO ScamWatch PH, with co-convenor Jocel De Guzman set to provide proactive tips on avoiding online scams.

Converge continues to expand its mission of creating a safe digital space, focusing on OSAEC awareness in 2023 and tackling AI-driven scams, including digitally enabled “love scams,” in 2024.