Marcos wants enhanced efforts to combat disinformation with the Filipinos

President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos vowed to “double down” the efforts to equip the public with critical thinking skills to fight misinformation and disinformation in this digital age.

During the 50th anniversary of the Publishers Association of the Philippines Inc. on Sept. 20, Marcos reminded the Filipinos to verify the information they see online.

“So I call on every Filipino: do not just fight; lead the change. Verify, question, [and] hold the line. We have a duty to protect the sanctity of facts, not just as citizens, but as guardians of our shared reality,” the President said.

Marcos emphasized that the public should verify information as online trolls affected work in the newsroom.

“From the anonymous troll farms to the deliberate spread of conspiracy theories, this fight has evolved far beyond the newsroom; it is now in the palm of every hand that scrolls through social media,” he expressed.

The chief executive also reiterated the role of journalists in digital threats.

“Misinformation, cyber libel threats, [and] the relentless pressures of the digital age have added layers of complexity in ensuring press freedom. Every post, every share, every careless click – these are the new battlegrounds,” he stated.

He also informed media workers not to succumb to challenges as they need to ensure that the truth will prevail.

There is diminishing interest in news and concerns over misinformation in social media this year as reported by Reuters Institute Digital News Report (DNR).