The Cybercrime Investigation and Coordinating Center (CICC) warned the public, particularly the netizens, against the proliferation of fake and recycled social media contents aimed at exploiting the ongoing conflict in the Middle East.

Undersecretary Renato “Aboy” Paraiso, CICC executive director, said such digital content appeared to be designed to exploit the anxieties of Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs) and their families as the tensions in the Middle East further escalates.

He cited for instance a viral 25-second video circulating on the

platform X (formerly Twitter), which falsely claims to show a Filipina live-streaming from her apartment in Dubai at the moment it was struck by an Iranian missile.

The post surfaced on March 2 but Paraiso said the content turned out to be an explosion at the Beirut Port in Lebanon in 2020 and was apparently leveraging the ongoing tensions that began late last month.

Paraiso said they were able to verify the digital content through the utilization of Open-Source Intelligence (OSINT) and AI-assisted verification tools.

He explained that the reposting of such videos appeared to be an engagement bait to garner views through fear-mongering.

“We are seeing a rise in 'engagement bait' where historic tragedies are rebranded as current events to weaponize the fear of families waiting for news from their loved ones abroad,” said Paraido.


“Exploiting a humanitarian crisis to gain social media traction is not just unethical; it is a digital crime,” he warned.

Paraiso said the spread of such misinformation is punishable under Article 154 of the Revised Penal Code: Unlawful use of means of publication and causing panic through false news and Section 6 of Republic Act No. 10175 (Cybercrime Prevention Act of 2012) which imposes higher penalties for crimes committed by, through, and with the use of information and communications technologies.

Paraiso then urged netizens to verify sources of video content and not spread specific video and similar unverified posts to prevent further distress to the OFW community.

He said netizens can report suspicious or fabricated content related to cybercrimes and online exploitation to the Inter-Agency Response Center via Hotline 1326.

“Our priority is the digital safety and mental well-being of our citizens. We will continue to track and identify those who orchestrate these disinformation campaigns to hold them accountable under the law,” Paraiso said.