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Republic of the Philippines 
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
Quezon City 
TWENTIETH CONGRESS 
First Regular Session 
House Bill No. ________ 
Introduced by REP. JAVIER MIGUEL L. BENITEZ 
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
The rapid development of deepfake technology has created urgent challenges for 
privacy, dignity, and public trust. While deepfakes can be used for legitimate 
purposes such as satire, research, and artistic expression, they are increasingly 
being weaponized to deceive, defraud, defame, and incite violence. 
In the Philippines, the widespread use of social media and the internet has 
magnified information security risks such as blackmail and revenge 
pornography, which cause severe humiliation and degradation by sharing 
private and intimate images without consent. 
Many scholars suggest that portraying a person in ways they would not consent 
to violates personal autonomy and dignity,1 and that such unauthorized use of 
one’s likeness infringes on the right to privacy and strains personal and 
professional relationships. 2 A study warns that the rapid accessibility of deepfake 
tools erodes public trust and demands proactive legal safeguards.3 
1 de Ruiter, A. (2021). The Distinct Wrong of Deepfakes. Philosophy & Technology, 34(4), 1311-
1332. https://doi.org/10.1007/s13347-021-00459-2. (Date last accessed: August 12, 2025). 
2 Singh, P., et al. (2023). Exploding AI-Generated Deepfakes and Misinformation: A Threat to 
Global 
Concern 
in 
the 
21st 
Century. 
https://papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers.cfm?abstract_id=4651093. (Date last accessed: August 12, 
2025).  
3 Fruto, K., et al. (2025). The Truth Behind Fakes: Deep Insights of Deepfake Technology. Universe 
International 
Journal 
of 
Interdisciplinary 
Research. 
Vol. 
5, 
Issue 
10. 
https://doi-
ds.org/doilink/04.2025-94187786/UIJIR. (Date last accessed: August 12, 2025). 
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The 1987 Philippine Constitution protects the right to privacy4 and the dignity of 
every person,5 while obligating the State to promote the general welfare6 and 
secure public order.7 Existing laws, including the Republic No. 10175 (2012), or 
the Cybercrime Prevention Act of 2012, and the Republic No. 10175 (2012), or the 
Data Privacy Act of 2012, do not specifically address the harms uniquely caused 
by deepfakes, leaving a significant gap in legal protection. 
This bill, the Deepfake Accountability and Transparency Act, seeks to fill this gap by: 
(a) requiring clear disclosures for any deepfake content;
(b) prohibiting harmful deepfakes, tampering with disclosures, and malicious
uses such as fraud, defamation, and incitement to violence; and
(c) providing exemptions for satire, parody, research, and consensual content.
Violations of this Act will be met with substantial fines and imprisonment to deter 
malicious actors. The Department of Information and Communications 
Technology (DICT), in coordination with the Department of Science and 
Technology (DOST), Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), and Department 
of Justice (DOJ), is tasked with issuing implementing rules to ensure effective 
enforcement in a fast-evolving technological landscape. 
Towards this end, this measure affirms the State’s constitutional mandate to 
protect dignity, privacy, and security, and ensures that emerging technologies, 
such as deepfakes, are harnessed responsibly. It is a necessary safeguard for the 
Filipino people in the digital age. 
In view of the foregoing, the passage of this bill is earnestly sought. 
JAVIER MIGUEL L. BENITEZ 
4 1987 Constitution, Article III, Section 3. 
5 1987 Constitution, Preamble; Article II, Section 11. 
6 1987 Constitution, Article II, Section 9. 
7 1987 Constitution, Article II, Section 5. 


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Republic of the Philippines 
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
Quezon City 
TWENTIETH CONGRESS 
First Regular Session 
House Bill No. ________ 
Introduced by REP. JAVIER MIGUEL L. BENITEZ 
AN ACT PROMOTING ACCOUNTABILITY AND TRANSPARENCY IN 
THE 
CREATION, 
DISCLOSURE, 
AND 
DISTRIBUTION 
OF 
ARTIFICIALLY 
MANIPULATED 
MEDIA 
(DEEPFAKES), 
PROTECTING INDIVIDUAL DIGNITY AND PRIVACY, DEFINING 
PROHIBITED ACTS, PROVIDING PENALTIES, AND FOR OTHER 
PURPOSES 
Be it enacted by the Senate and the House of Representatives of the Philippines in 
Congress assembled: 
SECTION 1. Short Title. – This Act shall be known as “Deepfake 
Accountability and Transparency Act.” 
SEC. 2. Declaration of Policy. –  It is the policy of the State to protect the 
dignity, privacy, and security of individuals from the harmful use of artificial 
intelligence technologies, particularly deepfake media. The State shall promote 
transparency and accountability in the creation and dissemination of such 
content. 
SEC. 3. Definition of Terms. – For purposes of this Act, the following 
terms shall mean: 
(a) Deepfake – Any media that appears to depict, with realistic likeness, a
person's speech or conduct that they did not engage in, generated substantially 
through technical means, including artificial intelligence, machine learning, or 
digital manipulation. 
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(b) Harmful Deepfake – A deepfake created or distributed with the intent to 
deceive, defraud, or harm an individual or the public. 
 
(c) Disclosure – A clear and conspicuous statement indicating that content 
has been digitally altered. 
 
SEC. 4. Mandatory Disclosure  Requirements. – Any person or entity that 
produces or distributes deepfake content shall ensure a clear, visible, and/or 
audible disclosure is included, depending on the media format: 
 
(a) Visual Content: A written disclosure prominently displayed. 
 
(b) Audio Content: A verbal statement at the beginning of the recording. 
 
(c) Audiovisual Content: Both written and verbal disclosures, where 
applicable. 
 
The disclosure must state that the content is altered and specify the nature 
of the alteration. 
 
SEC. 5. Prohibited Acts. – It shall be unlawful to: 
 
(a) Create or distribute a harmful deepfake without proper disclosure;  
 
(b) Remove, alter, or tamper with required disclosures; 
 
(c) Use deepfake technology to defame, deceive, commit fraud, or incite 
violence; 
 
(d) Obtain consent through coercion, deception, or misrepresentation for 
creating a deepfake. 
 
SEC. 6. Exemptions. – This Act shall not apply to: 
 
(a) Content created for satire, parody, or artistic expression, provided it 
contains appropriate disclosure; 
 


 
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(b) Deepfakes created for educational or research purposes, with 
disclosure; 
 
(c) Content where the individual depicted has given explicit, verifiable, 
and informed consent in written form. 
 
SEC. 7. Penalties. – Any person who violates section 5(a) or 5(b) shall face 
a fine ranging from Two Million (P2,000,000.00) to Five Million (P5,000,000.00), 
and/or imprisonment of 6 to 12 years. 
 
Those who commit harmful deepfake acts under section 5(c) shall face a 
fine of Five Million (P5,000,000.00) to Ten Million (P10,000,000.00), and/or 
imprisonment of 12 to 20 years. 
 
SEC. 8. Implementing Rules and Regulations. – The Department of 
Information and Communications Technology (DICT), in coordination with the 
Department of Science and Technology (DOST), the Department of Trade and 
Industry (DTI), and the Department of Justice (DOJ) shall promulgate rules and 
guidelines to ensure the effective implementation of this Act. 
 
SEC. 9. Appropriations. – The amount necessary to carry out the 
provisions of this Act shall be included in the annual General Appropriations 
Act. 
 
SEC. 10. Separability Clause. – If any part or provision of this Act is 
declared invalid or unconstitutional, the remaining parts not affected shall 
remain in full force and effect. 
 
SEC. 11. Repealing Clause. – All laws, decrees, orders, rules, and 
regulations inconsistent with this Act are hereby repealed or modified 
accordingly. 
 
SEC. 12. Effectivity. – This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its 
publication in the Official Gazette or in at least two (2) newspapers of general 
circulation. 
 
 
Approved,