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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider National devider 'China's cyberattacks could influence 2022 polls,' Hontiveros warns

'China's cyberattacks could influence 2022 polls,' Hontiveros warns

Published Jul 20, 2021 10:33 am

Senator Risa Hontiveros on Tuesday, July 20, raised her concern that the government of China could "heavily influence" the 2022 elections through alleged cyberespionage campaigns against the Philippines.

A first-time voter registers at the Commission on Election (Comelec) office in Pasay City. (PNA)

“Hindi na ako magugulat kung mangingialam sa ating eleksyon ang Tsina. Klaro namang gagawin nila ang lahat para ma-angkin ng tuluyan ang ating mga karagatan at teritoryo sa West Philippine Sea, at kasama na dito ang pagtatalaga ng lider na hindi kokontra sa utos nila (I won't be surprised if China meddles with our elections. It's clear that they will do everything to claim our seas and territory in the West Philippine Sea)," Hontiveros said in a statement.

"China’s cyberwarfare and disinformation campaigns will be one of the biggest threats to our national security and our democracy,” she warned.

The opposition senator cited a report from Russian cybersecurity firm Kaspersky that there is a “rare, wide-scale advanced persistent threat” by Chinese-speaking "threat actors” that gather geopolitical and economic intelligence in Asia and Africa.

Some 1,400 users in the Philippines, including government entities, were said to have fallen victims to the activity, which supposedly include creating a fake version of teleconferencing app Zoom.

"Hindi rin ito ang unang beses na naireport na may mga cyberespionage attacks laban sa Pilipinas na di umano ay mula sa Tsina (This is not the first report that there are cyberespionage attacks from China against the Philippines)," Hontiveros said.

"Dapat may mga polisiya at paghahanda na tayo sa tuloy-tuloy na pangingialam ng Tsina dahil mahaba-habang laban ito (We should have the policies and

preparations to counter these interference by China because this would be a long fight)," she pointed out.

The lawmaker appealed to the Department of National Defense (DND) and the Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) to immediately look into Kaspersky’s reports.

“The DND and DICT should strengthen our cyberdefense framework, and at the same time, Filipino users should be made aware of how we can protect ourselves from cyberattacks," Hontiveros said.

"Tulong-tulong nating siguraduhin na ang interes at kapakanan ng Pilipinas ay napapanindigan (We should work together to ensure that we uphold the interest and welfare of the Philippines)," she added.

Related Tags

Risa Hontiveros 2022 polls cyberattack 2022 NATIONAL AND LOCAL ELECTIONS West Philippine Sea china
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