This is the first part of the four-part series on Media and Information Literacy in the Disinformation Web. In this piece, it will discuss how the spread of fake news and misinformation is eroding trust in media and threatening democracy in the Philippines. Explore the impact of political propaganda, COVID-19 misinformation, and the fight for truth.

In the Philippines, the fine line between facts and fiction is increasingly blurred. Due to the proliferation of fake news, campaign propaganda, and state-sponsored trolling, Filipinos have difficulty fact-checking and assessing the content that they consume. Moreover, these contents tend to satisfy people’s biases and world view which is why they tend to accept the facts at face value even if they were factually erroneous to begin with.

This article will highlight different examples of how bad actors spread fake news. It will also highlight the dire consequences of the mass spreading of misinformation. Lastly, how can the community fight against them?

Case Study 1: Political Propaganda as Weaponization of Lies

Political propaganda is a potent tool in the Philippines. This is rampant during elections. During that season, false narratives and manipulated stories have become common on social media. Social media is the predominant source of campaign propaganda among Filipinos; after all, the Philippines is the social media capital of the world. This propaganda is exacerbated by state-sponsored trolling, which further amplifies these messages. This creates an echo chamber that stifles dissent.

For example, studies on the last 2022 presidential campaign have shown a surge in misleading information. Usually, the content of the campaign favors certain candidates while harming others. This is particularly detrimental to democracy because people ground their discretion on lies in order to vote for particular candidates. 

In this scenario, it harms the electorate the most because they are fed with lies in order to vote for certain candidates that have self-serving agendas. 

Case Study 2: Clickbait, PR and Coordinated Campaigns Contribute to the Fake News Epidemics

Aside from skewing public opinion, disinformation is handy in generating profits for businesses. Remember, attention is the new currency of the digital economy so enterprises come up with lots of strategies to attract people’s attention. For example, clickbait websites and PR firms contribute to the fake news epidemic. They churn out emotionally charged but misleading stories for profit. 

They do this through coordinated disinformation campaigns. The said campaigns flood social media with fabricated content that creates an illusion of widespread support for specific narratives. For example, they greenwash oil companies in order to blind-sight the public that they are environmentally responsible.

These tactics erode trust in media and foster as cloud of scepticism among institutions. If people are to rely on credible media sources, the media companies must hold themselves ethically responsible otherwise it will be a PR nightmare for them or a lawsuit waiting for telling fabricated stories.

Case Study 3: COVID-19 Misinformation That Worsened A Public Health Emergency

The COVID-19 pandemic has been a proven disaster due to misinformation. False claims about treatments and vaccines have led to dangerous health behaviors and vaccine hesitancy. These harmful narratives have prolonged the pandemic and put lives at risk.

Fighting Back: Media Literacy and Collective Action

To combat disinformation, it requires a multi-pronged approach. It requires the efforts of major key players.

•           Government agencies – pass laws that incentivize media companies to integrate responsible publications in their platforms such as fact-checking.

•           Independent fact-checkers and civil society organizations should educate the public and expose false narratives. 

•           Promotion of Media and information literacy education is essential so individuals can critically evaluate information. Understand that the reason bad actors exploit the consumers is due to a lack of MIL among users.

As a Media Consumer, What Can You Do?

•           Be Skeptical: Don’t believe everything you read online.

•           Check Sources: Verify information from reliable sources.

•           Support Fact-Checkers: Follow and share the work of reputable fact-checking organizations.

•           Demand Accountability: Hold media outlets and politicians accountable for spreading misinformation.

Balancing Regulation and Freedom of Speech

Everyone agrees that fighting disinformation is essential, but protecting freedom of speech is equally important. This is where things could get murky if we highly regulate speech in the name of fact-checking. 

The solution could be to find the right balance in regulations to ensure that legitimate discourse and criticism are not stifled. 

The Fight for Truth: A Shared Responsibility

The fight against disinformation is a shared responsibility. When people become more media literate and demand accountability, they can create a more informed and resilient society. The future of Philippine democracy may well depend on the ability of Filipinos to filter out the web of misinformation and uphold the truth.

Coach Boost Gio