The Looming Threat of Disinformation in the 2025 Philippine Midterm Elections
As the 2025 midterm elections draw closer in the Philippines, a growing chorus of concern is rising from lawmakers, digital researchers, and civil society groups regarding the insidious influence of coordinated disinformation campaigns. These campaigns, designed to manipulate public opinion and warp democratic discourse online, pose a significant threat to the integrity of the electoral process. The proliferation of fake news, manipulated content, and inauthentic social media accounts has become a worrying trend, raising questions about the vulnerability of the electorate to online manipulation and the ability of tech platforms to effectively combat this digital menace.
A recent report by Israeli cybersecurity firm Cyabra has shed light on the extent of this digital warfare. The report revealed that almost a third of social media accounts engaging in conversations surrounding the International Criminal Court’s (ICC) investigation into former President Rodrigo Duterte exhibited characteristics of inauthenticity. These accounts displayed synchronized behavior, posting identical content, utilizing shared hashtags, and engaging in aggressive resharing patterns, reaching an estimated 11.8 million users in a single month. This coordinated activity suggests a deliberate attempt to manipulate public perception and sway online narratives regarding the sensitive issue of the ICC investigation.
The Cyabra report has sparked outrage and calls for action among Philippine lawmakers. House Deputy Speaker David “Jay-Jay” Suarez has described the phenomenon as “digital warfare,” emphasizing the battleground is not just the internet but the “hearts and minds of millions of Filipinos.” Suarez has urged major tech platforms, including Meta, X (formerly Twitter), and YouTube, to intensify their efforts against disinformation networks, emphasizing their responsibility to protect the democratic process. He argues that these platforms possess the necessary tools and data to combat this manipulation and should not remain passive while democracy is under attack.
While no formal congressional resolution has directly addressed the Cyabra findings, lawmakers are actively pushing for stronger media literacy programs in schools and communities. Senior Deputy Speaker Aurelio “Dong” Gonzales Jr., a staunch advocate for digital education, stresses the urgency of equipping voters with the critical thinking skills needed to navigate the complex online landscape. Gonzales highlighted the dual nature of social media, acknowledging its power to connect and inform while also recognizing its potential for spreading malicious content, inciting violence, misleading the public, and eroding trust in democratic institutions. He has previously supported legislation to integrate Media and Information Literacy (MIL) into the national curriculum, collaborating with the Department of Education and the Commission on Elections (COMELEC) to ensure widespread implementation.
The Foundation for Media Alternatives (FMA), a prominent digital rights group, emphasizes that combating online disinformation should not be equated with censorship. They argue that protecting the right of voters to make informed decisions based on facts, rather than manipulation, is paramount. FMA actively partners with civil society organizations to facilitate community workshops and online campaigns aimed at educating Filipinos on how to identify false narratives, recognize bot behavior, and detect manipulated content. They advocate for a nuanced approach that balances the need to combat disinformation with the protection of freedom of expression.
Tech experts, including those at Cyabra, warn that without stronger regulatory oversight and increased platform accountability, these fake networks will continue to shape public discourse and further polarize communities. Rafi Mendelsohn, Cyabra’s vice president of communications, highlighted the danger these networks pose, emphasizing their ability to amplify certain voices while silencing others. This selective amplification distorts the information landscape, making it increasingly difficult for voters to access balanced and unbiased information. While critics point to the continued lack of transparency from tech platforms, companies like Meta and Google have pledged to improve their automated systems and expand fact-checking partnerships in preparation for the upcoming elections. The effectiveness of these measures remains to be seen, and the challenge of combating disinformation in the digital age continues to be a complex and evolving one.
