BETTER DAYS
Over the past few decades we have seen an exponential growth in the use of technology and along with it, the amount of information that is being made available at the fingertips of people. A while back, the amount of content an individual can consume was dependent on his or her capability to pay for subscription to the internet, which back then was very expensive. Now, access to the Web has become easier and cheaper. All you need is a smartphone and a minimal amount of money to go through your favorite social media apps.
This ease of access to the Web and the widespread use of social media in the Philippines has also created its own set of issues. Foremost among these is disinformation that has become widespread across all popular social media platforms. Many of us are now aware of disinformation as a serious issue that can have an impact across different segments of society. During elections, there is a heightened awareness of disinformation because of how different groups of people have used this to either promote or malign certain candidates. We have yet to see definitive data about how the spread of disinformation affects polls but the matter has become serious enough to garner the attention of our Commission on Elections (Comelec). In fact, Comelec Chairman George Garcia has tasked a unit of the poll body to look into the use of artificial intelligence and deepfake technology with the end of prohibiting its use in the 2025 elections. Such is technology now that groups can tap AI to impersonate personalities in order to deceive the public.
Disinformation has also reared its ugly head in international politics. A rather disturbing report came out recently about how the US military implemented a secret program at the height of the Covid-19 pandemic to sow fear about the use of the China-developed Sinovac vaccine. With the use of fake accounts on social media apps, the said program involved coming out with localized content across different jurisdictions, including the Philippines, about China being the source of COVID and how people should not trust the efficacy of its homegrown vaccine. It also amplified a disputed contention that vaccines sometimes contain pork gelatin and as such the use of the Chinese manufactured vaccine on Muslims is forbidden under Islamic law.
Another report detailed how Chinese social media users and platforms were engaged in spreading false news about a supposed civil war brewing in the Philippines due to President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s policies on the West Philippine Sea. The anonymous accounts on Chinese social media amplified statements from officials of the previous administration calling for the independence of Mindanao. These two separate developments show how social media and the digital world has already become a new battleground and arena for geopolitics.
Currently, we have anywhere between 50 to 83 percent of the population who have access to the internet. This covers both fixed and mobile internet users across the country. According to the Department of Information and Communications Technology, the Philippines is one of the top, if not the top of the list of countries when it comes to the use of the internet. Filipinos are also above average when it comes to time spent on social media apps. This leads me to question how much of Filipinos' internet usage is actually for productive purposes.
These issues underscore the need for us to equip our people with the right skills and competencies. Under the current 19th Congress, we have been pushing for the approval of a National Digital Transformation Act that aims to equip our people with the necessary digital skills. In this day and age, it is crucial for individuals to have digital skills in order to create better employment opportunities and become more productive when engaging in endeavors such as freelance work. Senate Bill No. 625 bill seeks to institutionalize a national digital transformation strategy and a national skills development strategy to ensure every Filipino is provided with a better understanding of information and communications technology (ICT) and develops the necessary skills to apply ICT in their daily lives. Such skills initiatives should include proper media literacy, and other programs that fight disinformation. It is only when we raise our awareness of what is truth and false that we can better stop the spread of misinformation and protect ourselves from being duped and exploited.([email protected]| Facebook, Twitter & Instagram: @sonnyangara)
Senator Sonny Angara has been in public service for 20 years— nine years as representative of the lone district of Aurora, and 11 as Senator. He has authored, co-authored, and sponsored more than 330 laws. He is currently serving his second term in the Senate.