EDITORIAL - Fighting fake news

The task force against fake news that an official of the Commission on Elections is proposing will not cover disinformation being spread against candidates in the May elections. Instead, the Comelec intends to focus on fake news related to the conduct of the elections, according to the proponent of the task force, Commissioner George Garcia.

In particular, Garcia cited stories spreading on social media that the May 9 elections are virtually over since the ballots have been filled out and just waiting to be tallied. Garcia said the Comelec must “fight back” to protect the integrity of the electoral process.

Exactly how the Comelec intends to fight back remains unclear. It can take some tips from victims of trolling and other forms of online smear campaigns, which have intensified in this election season. Social media platforms have cooperated in global efforts to cleanse their sites of trolls, fake news and black propaganda, taking down multiple accounts for coordinated inauthentic behavior or CIB, brigading and mass reporting.

Meta, formerly known as Facebook, describes CIB as a “coordinated campaign that seeks to manipulate public debate across our apps.” Brigading is carried out by “adversarial networks” wherein “people work together to mass comment, mass post or engage in other types of repetitive mass behaviors to harass others or silence them.”

“Mass reporting” refers to adversarial networks wherein people work together “to mass-report an account or content to get it incorrectly taken down from (Meta’s) platform” – a tactic used, for example, against legitimate dissent in repressive regimes.

Meta owns Facebook, Facebook Messenger, Instragram and WhatsApp. The Comelec, if it is serious in its intent to go after purveyors of disinformation, can work with Meta as well as Google and other social media platforms.

Beyond coordination, the Comelec must conduct a more aggressive campaign to encourage the public to get their information from reliable news sources. News reporting requires years of training and specialized skills, and there are ethics that govern responsible journalism. There are no such rules on social media, where anonymity protects those who spread lies and black propaganda masquerading as news.

At the same time, the Comelec must draw up penalties for established attempts to undermine the integrity of the electoral process through fake news. Facebook previously revealed the identities of some of the persons engaging in CIB. The country also has cyber crime laws that can be applied in certain cases. As in other offenses, the prospect of punishment should serve as a deterrent against the spread of fake news.