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 of these illicit practices is deeply concerning,” the regulator stated. “They threaten the fundamental rights of both individuals and institutions. Knowledge of the law and public awareness are our most essential tools in protecting the nation from this scourge.”
The initiative will move beyond mere warnings, aiming to create a “solid inter-institutional alliance” to dismantle the digital ecosystem that allows these crimes to flourish. The efforts include measures to strengthen the current legal framework to ensure more effective prosecution of digital crimes. Likewise, part of the new strategy is a large scale campaign to educate citizens on identifying scams and protecting their digital identities.
Indotel says it will lead a coalition that includes the High-Tech Crimes Investigation Department (DICAT), the National Police and the Public Ministry (Attorney General Office).
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Indotel
8 January 2026