The Philippine National Police-Davao de Oro (PNP-Davao de Oro) warned the public against the irresponsible creation and circulation of artificial intelligence-generated images depicting individuals in police uniforms, saying such content could mislead the public and potentially expose creators or distributors to legal consequences.
In a public advisory on August 20, 2026, the Davao de Oro Police Provincial Office (DDOPPO) said the growing accessibility of AI tools has made it easier to generate or manipulate images that can make an individual appear to be a legitimate police officer.
While AI-generated content may be used for creative, educational, or entertainment purposes, police authorities stressed that its use should not cross into deception, impersonation, or other acts that could cause harm.
“Technology must be used to inform and create, not to impersonate, deceive, or cause harm,” the DDOPPO said.
The police office particularly cautioned against the unauthorized use of police uniforms, insignia, identification cards, and other official markings in AI-generated content, warning that such images could falsely suggest that a person is an actual member of the PNP or that the police organization is connected to or endorses a particular activity.
The DDOPPO also emphasized that the use of artificial intelligence does not exempt individuals from existing laws and regulations.
Depending on the circumstances and manner in which the content is used, the creation or distribution of deceptive AI-generated images may result in civil, administrative, or criminal liability, especially when linked to impersonation, fraud, defamation, harassment, identity misuse, or the unauthorized use of official symbols.
The public was urged to exercise caution before posting or sharing digitally generated content and to clearly identify images as AI-generated when necessary to avoid misleading viewers.
The police reminded social media users to follow a simple rule before circulating such material: “Think before you generate. Verify before you share.”
The warning comes as AI-generated images have recently gained popularity on Facebook, where users have been joining trends that transform their photographs or create entirely new images showing themselves in various professions, uniforms, settings and scenarios, including images depicting individuals as police officers.
These images are typically produced through generative AI tools that use text prompts, reference photographs, or a combination of both. The technology analyzes patterns and visual features to generate a new image, including facial appearance, clothing, backgrounds, lighting, and other details. AI-powered editing tools can also modify an existing photograph by digitally adding or replacing elements, making it possible to create a realistic-looking image of a person wearing a police uniform even if the person was never photographed in one.
Because the technology makes such realistic images increasingly accessible, the DDOPPO urged the public to use AI responsibly and ensure that content shared online does not impersonate, deceive, or cause harm.
