While Artificial Intelligence (AI) continues to be celebrated for its transformative potential, the Dominican Republic is grappling with an alarming surge in cyber threats. The National Cybersecurity Center, headquartered in Santo Domingo, recently disclosed that a staggering 233 million attempted cyberattacks were recorded in the first half of this year. This unprecedented wave of digital assaults has prompted urgent calls for bolstering digital resilience across both public and private sectors. Among the most insidious threats are sophisticated scams involving manipulated digital texts and images, designed to deceive even the most cautious individuals. These deceptions have led to significant financial losses, particularly in the regulated financial sector, where modern digital tools are exploited to perpetrate massive frauds. Notably, hundreds of elderly Americans have fallen victim to scams orchestrated by cybercriminals operating from the Dominican Republic, losing substantial assets through deceptive communication channels. The situation worsened during Hurricane Melissa, when 67% of the information circulating on social media was found to be false, according to INDOTEL Director Guido Gómez Mazara. He accused opposition parties of fueling a wave of disinformation, exacerbating the crisis. Meanwhile, Banco Popular has issued a red alert, warning customers about the dual-edged nature of AI. While it offers immense benefits, it also introduces risks such as deepfakes—highly convincing audiovisual content that can lead to reputational damage, financial loss, and data breaches. UNESCO has also raised concerns, highlighting how digital technologies, while enhancing education, can also perpetuate gender stereotypes and expose young users to harmful content. Audrey Azoulay, UNESCO’s Director-General, emphasized the dangers of algorithm-controlled content on social media, which often glorifies unhealthy behaviors and unrealistic body standards. As the Dominican Republic navigates this digital minefield, the need for informed vigilance and robust cybersecurity measures has never been more critical.
Digital-age snipers are firing at the Dominican Republic as if it were their favorite target.
