COMMUNITY | Spotting disinformation requires more than fact-checking
The discussion emphasized that resisting disinformation requires more than correcting false claims after they circulate.
Filipinos need stronger critical thinking and media literacy skills to recognize increasingly sophisticated disinformation campaigns, journalists, researchers and public sector experts said during a recent forum organized by PLDT and Smart Communications.
The discussion took place at the latest PEG-Usapan Natin Session, a learning platform for employees and stakeholders that brought together experts to examine how artificial intelligence (AI), online algorithms and coordinated influence campaigns are changing the information environment.
Camille Diola, chief editor of Philstar.com and Interaksyon, said determining whether online content is real or fake is no longer enough to establish its credibility.
“The better questions are: Where did this come from? What evidence supports it? What is missing? Is the context intact? And how certain can we actually be?” Diola said. “Those are the same questions journalists ask every day.”
She noted that AI-generated content, information presented without its original context and coordinated efforts to amplify misleading narratives have made verification increasingly important.
JM Lanuza, assistant professor of political science at the University of the Philippines Manila and head of research at the Sigla Research Center, said disinformation campaigns work by exploiting human behavior and emotional responses.
“Everyone is vulnerable,” Lanuza said. “Influence operations are effective because they tap into fears, aspirations, frustrations, and emotions. One solution is not just correcting information after the fact but helping people recognize manipulation before it happens.”
Gian Lao, deputy head of PLDT’s Public Engagement Group, said algorithms and personalization technologies increasingly shape the information people encounter online. He emphasized the need for continued discussions on digital literacy and responsible information consumption.
“One forum will not solve everything, but having these every so often—with experienced people like our speakers—will remind us of the behaviors, and the self-awareness, necessary to protect ourselves, our loved ones, and our network,” Lao said.
Rear Adm. Jay Tarriela, Philippine Coast Guard spokesperson for the West Philippine Sea, highlighted transparency as a way to counter misleading narratives, particularly on issues involving the country’s maritime position.
“When we talk about the West Philippine Sea, it concerns every one of us because the information space is also being used to counter our own position. Our greatest challenge is disinformation, because it confuses people, erodes trust, and divides communities,” Tarriela said. “Transparency allows people to see facts for themselves and make informed judgments.”
The discussion emphasized that resisting disinformation requires more than correcting false claims after they circulate. Individuals need to examine sources, check evidence, recognize missing context and understand how emotional appeals can influence their judgment.
The speakers also called for a shared effort among individuals, institutions, educators, media organizations and technology platforms to strengthen public resilience against misleading content.
PLDT and Smart said their PEG-Usapan Natin Sessions aim to encourage more discerning information consumption and responsible participation in digital spaces.
Smart also urged customers to report text scams and smishing messages through its HuliScam portal at https://smart.com.ph/huliscam, its verified social media accounts or the *888 hotline.
Full disclosure: All news articles published on the TechSabado website are written by human journalists, unless otherwise specified. Final text editing is also performed by human editors, with artificial intelligence (AI) used only to assist with additional grammar and style guide corrections..
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