Philippines’ CICC Seeks P1 Billion Budget to Monitor Dark Web and Social Media Threats

Lawmakers have received a request from the Philippines’ cybercrime unit for a P1 billion budget in order to acquire a sophisticated system capable of scanning the dark web and social media platforms in order to identify emerging threats.

According to the report, the CICC (Cybercrime Investigation and Coordinating Center) submitted the proposal to Congress. This agency, CICC, fights against online crimes and ensures the overall protection of citizens’ digital engagements. It is under the Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT).

If approved, the budget will provide the CICC with the funding necessary to create an all-in-one threat detection tool that will monitor the dark web and social media automatically for illegal cyber activities.

The dark web is a part of the Internet that is not indexed through common search engines and is generally only accessible via special software. It has a reputation for hosting illegal marketplaces, stolen data, and other illegal activities conducted by criminals.

Many law enforcement agencies around the world view monitoring dark net activities as crucial to advancing efforts to combat all forms of cybercrime, as they provide evidence of online fraud, theft of personal identification information, and illegal marketplaces. For example, the FBI has reported that monitoring the dark web can help law enforcement identify different types of fraud, such as identity theft or stolen goods.

Notably, the chances of identifying criminal activity on the dark web will significantly increase if the Philippine Congress approves the CICC’s request for P1 billion.

Why the Detection Tool Matters Now

CICC’s chief told lawmakers that online threats have become bigger and more complex recently, with scammers becoming more creative in how they hide their activity. Social media platforms, messaging apps, and encrypted networks allow bad actors to spread fraud, harmful content, and illegal services with little oversight.

Many complaints relating to cybercrime by consumers in the Philippines are on the increase.  According to the Cybercrime Investigation and Coordination Centre (CICC), the most reported cybercrime category in 2025 was consumer fraud, which constitutes almost the entire number of complaints victims made to its 1326 helpline.

Consumer fraud includes various types of scams such as online fraud, phishing attempts, fake online offers, and other forms of misleading. Last year, consumer fraud was the most reported crime from thousands of individual cases across the country, showing the scale of the challenges law enforcement must deal with, since many more people are engaging in digital activities.

If the CICC had a robust monitoring system in place, it could discover illegal activities before they become a larger issue by having the ability to identify online crime at its very beginning. The agency uses dark web intelligence to spot illegal sales of personal information and IDs, revealing online threats and helping protect potential victims.

This approach mirrors efforts in the United States, where lawmakers have proposed a new bill with harsher penalties for dark web drug trafficking, recognizing that sophisticated threats require both advanced technology and stronger legal consequences.

In addition to using dark web technology, it is necessary to monitor social media as well. Many scams today start with social media posts or fake accounts offering unrealistic deals or schemes. The Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) has previously teamed up with social media platforms to tackle this issue, as scams and AI-generated fraud continue to hurt users.

Experts say that watching for suspicious activity online isn’t just about enforcement, it’s about prevention. The earlier bad behavior is identified, the sooner authorities can alert the public and block harmful networks.

Lawmakers Show Support, but the Budget is Colossal

CICC officials have already received some backing from members of Congress who understand the growing threat of online harms, and there are lawmakers open to boosting the agency’s resources to deal with cybercrime more effectively.

Lawmakers will debate the P1 billion price tag for enhanced cyber defense capabilities to determine whether it’s a worthwhile investment and how it fits into the national budget for security, technology, and public protection.

So far, some lawmakers in Congress have shown support for Cybersecurity Enhancement, as the increased availability of cybersecurity services will only help in protecting citizens and vulnerable populations due to the international nature of cyber threats that impact ordinary consumers and businesses alike.

Experts also believe investing in advanced threat detection methods today can save money in the future when it comes to preventing fraud/identity theft and losses as a result of scams.

Public safety has benefitted from similar investments in other countries where agencies like the European Union Agency for Cybersecurity (ENISA) recognize the importance of threat intelligence and monitoring tools as key components of implementing an effective national cyber defense strategy.

CICC’s request comes at a time when digital threats are evolving. The nature of modern-day cybercrime continues to change and evolve. Evidently, the significant increase in phishing and link-based attacks makes it more critical than ever for CICC to obtain assistance in monitoring these types of attacks. 

What a Threat Detector Could Do for the Public

A dedicated threat detection system would combine automated scanning, data analysis, and alerting features. It could watch:

• Dark web marketplaces that trade stolen data
• Public and private social media posts related to scams or cybercrime
• Emerging threats and patterns that human investigators might miss
• Real-time alerts for criminal activity online

While such technology would not replace the efforts of human investigators, it could help them by filtering and prioritizing alerts that warrant further action, and provide quicker and more efficient investigations.

Although the budget related to implementing such technologies is still in progress, law enforcement and cybersecurity experts are advising all members of the public to remain vigilant for signs of online danger and to report any signs of cybercrime.

Some governments have recommended several simple ways to maintain online protection from becoming a victim of cybercrime: using unique passwords for your various online accounts, enabling two-factor authentication, and being cautious before clicking on unknown links or attachments are all methods of protecting your personal information from criminals who wish to exploit it.