When Lies Wear A Familiar Face

If humanity could create the means to cure diseases, expand human intelligence, and bring people together, they sure have learned to make a weapon of unparalleled power to spread lies and discord. One tool that has proven itself as such is deepfake creation—an example of which recently circulated on the social media feeds of Filipinos, threatening to poison public discourse and fray political and social ties.

Deepfake news is a potent threat to democracy, especially when it concerns politicians and government figures, but it can manifest in many other ways. This digital weapon can damage one’s professional life, threaten vulnerable groups, and sow confusion and mistrust among well-meaning citizens. Its implications are far-reaching, touching all aspects of human life.

One of the important steps in stopping deepfake news is recognizing its potential to infiltrate and corrupt important topics and conversations. One way the public can protect itself is through education. Filipinos must be educated and encouraged to think critically about the information they consume. A single, seemingly far-fetched deepfake can snowball into a viral sensation that can inflict serious harm on the wrong person. The public must demand that social media platforms be held accountable for containing deepfakes in their system. Another vital measure is for the government to enforce regulations and punishments in cases of proven deep fake fraud. In addition, the government should allow and fund research efforts devoted to finding solutions to the problem.

Most importantly, the residents of Philippine society must hold each other accountable for spreading misinformation. Viral videos and images that appear to confirm a long-held suspicion or contain particularly juicy gossip can do more harm than good when shared without a second thought. If a certain piece of content makes you angry or eager to punch a “share” button, it is best to take a step back and verify its credibility by looking at credible news sources. Not everything that appears on social media is factual or reliable. Sometimes checking a source means looking at whether an article was reported by influential newspapers and websites. Another technique is to analyze the source behind the deepfake. Because why would they want the news to be in a certain way? And what do they stand to gain from it?

Threats of deepfake news are a serious and pressing problem. But humanity cannot be at the mercy of the weaponized application of technology that serves no beneficial purpose. However, with the public armed with the power of communication and critical thinking, they can fight back against the wave of deception, because Filipino values have always been a remedy to the vises of mankind.

Our spirits does not like rash or impulsive actions, especially if our actions may hurt others, like jumping into conclusions based on rumors you heard. For centuries, the virtues of critical thinking and inquiry have been deeply embedded in the Filipino psyche.

Filipinos are known to ask questions and seek answers before making important decisions. So why not apply it online? These same actions can help individuals determine whether a piece of news or information is credible and reliable. While technology has advanced exponentially and can fake faces and voices in seconds, it cannot replicate the natural human fear of being fooled. Filipinos must unite to combat deepfake news and protect the truth from being overshadowed by manipulative technological advancements.