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Educational officials have warned the public about viral misinformation claiming nationwide school closures until December, as misleading AI-generated videos reach millions of viewers across social media platforms.
The Department of Education (DepEd) has officially debunked false claims circulating on Facebook that face-to-face classes would be suspended nationwide from October 15 to December due to recent earthquakes. The fabricated announcement, which has garnered over 3.1 million views on a single post, features an AI-generated video of a man speaking with the DepEd logo in the background.
“No face-to-face classes from October 15 to December in all school levels. This is due to the series of earthquakes, and we don’t know where it will strike next,” the artificial speaker claims in Filipino. “This is for the safety of all students, everything will shift to online and modular classes until December.”
The primary source of these fabricated videos is a Facebook page called “Dswd Tv. Network,” which mimics the official Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) branding. With more than 335,000 followers, this page has established a pattern of publishing false information about government aid, class suspensions, and calamity responses.
DepEd took to its official Facebook page on October 13 to alert the public about this disinformation campaign. “DepEd reminds the public to be careful and be critical of the information they read online,” the department stated. “Let’s fight fake news, do not follow pages that share false news and report them immediately.”
Regional education officials have also stepped in to counter the rumors. Jenielito Atillo, spokesperson for DepEd-Davao Region, explicitly denied any nationwide suspension in an interview with Sunstar Davao, labeling such messages as “fake news.” His statement came after the magnitude 7.4 earthquake that recently affected Davao Oriental raised concerns about school safety.
Technical analysis of the viral videos further confirmed their inauthenticity. Deepfake detection software Resemble AI identified the content as artificially generated, using internal metrics that operate with approximately 90% confidence and accuracy rates.
The misinformation campaign also employs deceptive tactics beyond the videos themselves. Links embedded in the posts, purportedly directing users to an official DepEd memorandum, instead redirect to unrelated online shopping platforms—a common technique used in phishing schemes.
The timing of these false claims appears deliberately tied to legitimate, but limited, class suspensions recently announced by DepEd. The department had ordered the suspension of face-to-face classes on October 13 and 14 in public schools throughout Metro Manila, citing both an influenza-like illness outbreak and the need for building inspections following seismic activity.
However, these actual suspensions were temporary and geographically limited—not the nationwide, months-long closure portrayed in the viral content.
This incident highlights the growing challenge education authorities face in combating sophisticated disinformation that leverages artificial intelligence to create convincing fake announcements. As AI-generated content becomes increasingly difficult to distinguish from authentic communications, DepEd has urged local government units to exercise “balance and prudence” when considering class suspensions, especially those based on speculative concerns about future seismic activity.
The department continues to encourage the public to verify information through official channels and report suspicious content to help combat the spread of disinformation.
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9 Comments
This is a concerning trend of using AI to spread false information. I hope DepEd continues to be proactive in debunking these fabricated claims and educating the public on how to spot misinformation. Maintaining trust in official sources is vital.
Glad to see DepEd quickly debunking these false claims about school closures. Spreading misinformation, especially around education, is irresponsible and can cause real harm. It’s important to rely on official sources for important updates.
Good to see DepEd taking a proactive stance in debunking these fabricated claims. Maintaining trust in official sources is so important, especially when it comes to critical issues like education. Fact-checking is essential to combat the spread of misinformation.
Misleading AI-generated videos like this are becoming all too common. I’m glad DepEd is addressing it directly and setting the record straight. Fact-checking is crucial to combat the spread of disinformation online.
This is a concerning example of how easily false information can spread, especially when presented in a seemingly credible way. I’m glad to see DepEd responding swiftly to set the record straight. Fact-checking is so important these days.
Appreciate DepEd taking a strong stance against these false claims. Maintaining accurate, up-to-date information about school policies is crucial, especially during challenging times. Glad to see them quickly dispel misleading narratives.
Curious to learn more about the technology behind these AI-generated videos and how they’re being used to spread false narratives. While the DepEd response is reassuring, the underlying issue of combating disinformation remains an ongoing challenge.
Disappointing to see misinformation like this gaining traction. I’m glad DepEd is working to counter it, but the spread of AI-generated disinformation is a growing challenge. Improving media literacy and source verification skills will be crucial going forward.
Curious to know more about the tactics used to create these AI-generated videos. What kind of technology is enabling this, and how can it be better regulated or countered? Disinformation can have serious consequences, so it’s an important issue to address.