The Philippines: A Breeding Ground for Disinformation and Foreign Influence
The Philippine political landscape has become a hotbed of disinformation, fueled by a complex interplay of domestic rivalries and alleged foreign interference. The recent midterm elections served as a stark reminder of the pervasive influence of online manipulation, with both pro-Duterte and pro-Marcos factions deploying armies of influencers, some authentic and many not, to sway public opinion. The use of deepfakes, generative AI, and coordinated disinformation campaigns has raised serious concerns about the integrity of the democratic process and the potential for external actors to shape political outcomes.
The arrest of former President Rodrigo Duterte under an International Criminal Court warrant triggered a surge of online activity, with his supporters mobilizing to defend him. However, analysis revealed that a significant portion of these online defenders were operating inauthentic accounts, amplifying pro-Duterte narratives and attacking the current administration of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., who had previously been an ally. This online activity coincided with the midterm elections, further muddying the waters and raising questions about the true level of support for Duterte and the extent to which online narratives influenced voter behavior.
Adding another layer of complexity, pro-Duterte online activity increasingly aligned with pro-China narratives. This convergence raises concerns about potential foreign influence operations seeking to exploit existing political fault lines in the Philippines. Researchers identified networks of inauthentic accounts promoting both pro-Duterte and pro-China content, suggesting a coordinated effort to amplify these messages. While direct links to the Chinese government remain difficult to establish definitively, the observed patterns of activity raise red flags about potential foreign involvement in shaping online discourse and potentially influencing electoral outcomes.
The Philippines has become particularly vulnerable to these tactics due to its history as a target of disinformation campaigns. The country has been described as a “petri dish” for such operations, with the 2016 presidential election, which brought Duterte to power, serving as a prime example of how data harvesting and targeted propaganda can be used to manipulate public opinion. Now, with the rise of readily available AI tools and the increasing sophistication of deepfake technology, the potential for manipulation has grown exponentially. These technologies allow for the creation of highly convincing fake audio and video content, which can be used to discredit opponents, spread false narratives, and sow confusion among the electorate.
The use of deepfakes and AI-generated content is not limited to pro-Duterte or pro-China actors. The Marcos administration has also been targeted, as well as progressive candidates and activists. Deepfakes purporting to show Marcos engaging in illicit activities were circulated online, while altered images and videos were used to label progressive figures as communist rebels, a tactic known as “red-tagging”. Red-tagging poses a serious threat to those targeted, as it can lead to harassment, intimidation, and even violence. Although Marcos pledged to end the practice, it persists, often perpetrated by members of the government’s own anti-communist task force.
The pervasiveness of disinformation and the ease with which it can be spread online pose a significant challenge to the Philippines’ democratic institutions. While the ultimate impact of these campaigns on electoral outcomes is difficult to quantify, there is no doubt that they contribute to a climate of distrust and polarization. Furthermore, the blending of domestic political rivalries with potential foreign influence operations creates a complex and opaque information environment where it becomes increasingly difficult to discern fact from fiction. This erosion of trust in information sources undermines public discourse and weakens the foundations of a healthy democracy. Moving forward, it is crucial for the Philippine government, civil society organizations, and social media platforms to collaborate on strategies to combat disinformation, promote media literacy, and safeguard the integrity of the electoral process.
