GOOD reason to be upbeat as we see the urgency in 2026 to fight fake news, clothed as reliable information by advanced Artificial Intelligence and geopolitical volatility.
This has become a “whole-of-society” priority this year involving governments, public and private media as well as tech platforms.
The widespread availability of generative AI in this digital age means high quality deep fakes that can be produced in just minutes, making it, in the eyes of many keep observers, difficult to distinguish reality from fabrication.
But we are glad private newspaper organizations, including the Manila Standard, and the government’s Presidential Communications Office have hammered out a Memorandum of Agreement to fight disinformation. misinformation and fake news.
Press Secretary Dave Gonez articulated sentiments of the media executives when he said at the signing in mid-week: “At a time when information flows like digital river – sometimes clar, sometimes muddied –we come together for a common purpose: to address the growing menace of fake news, disinformation, and misinformation, especially on social media.
“A healthy democracy depends on an informed public – not misinformed, not misled, not deceived.”
Beyond the eye range of the communications stalwarts and news executives, is the perceived truth of AI-generated deep fakes which have become cheap, easy, and near-instantaneous creations.
Media observers have acknowledged and estimated that up to 90 percent of online content could be synthetically generated by 2026, making it impossible to rely on visual or audio “proof,” as even authentic footage can be dismissed as fake or what some analysts call the “liar’s dividend.”
We have observed from our newsroom seats how AI-driven misinformation has been, for instance, weaponized to manipulate voter perception, sway elections, and undermine trust in democratic institutions worldwide.
Many well-meaning media practitioners have declared disinformation is no longer just a social nuisance but directly causing financial fraud, like different deepfake scams, and posing risks to national security as well as public safety.
Digital giants like Meta and Google are being urged to work with governments to address coordinated disinformation campaigns on their platforms.
Technology is also being used to fight technology, with AI-driven security tools deployed to detect manipulated media and watermark synthetic content.
There is this buoyant feeling that police and community leaders are also being mobilized to debunk local rumors, alongside a renewed focus on media and information literacy to help the public discern truth.
We hope success will be achieved beyond the dried signatures in the Memorandum which signifies a desire for a partnership, agreement, or project to transcend mere legal formality or initial bureaucratic approval.
We cannot over-emphasize the true value of the Memorandum lies in the action, commitment, and impact that occurs after the dried signatures.
For the people of the Philippines.
