DR1 Daily News - Dominican Republic

The Dominican Institute of Telecommunications (Indotel) has announced an enhanced effort to combat what it describes as a rising tide of digital blackmail, extortion, and disinformation. Set to launch in 2026, the initiative marks a coordinated state response to cybercrimes that have increasingly targeted the security and reputation of Dominican citizens.

The strategy, approved by Indotel’s board of directors, focuses on three primary pillars: public education, legal reform, and inter-agency enforcement.

Indotel officials warned that cybercriminals are utilizing increasingly advanced tactics, including AI-generated tools and manipulated imagery, to fuel what they described as the “extortion business.”

The urgency of the rollout follows a sobering statistic: the Dominican Republic recorded the highest number of digital fraud victims in the Americas during the second half of 2024.

“The growth...