EDITORIAL - Information chaos

World Press Freedom Day was marked on May 3 as free press advocates confronted the global spread of disinformation and fake news through social media and the spread of “opinion media.”

Reporters Without Borders or RSF, in its 2022 edition of the World Press Freedom Index covering 180 countries and economies, lamented “the disastrous effects of news and information chaos – the effects of a globalized and unregulated online information space that encourages fake news and propaganda.” RSF said its report showed a twofold increase in polarization amplified by information chaos, which fuels divisions within and between countries.

In the latest index, the Philippines ranked 147th, down from 138th place in 2021, although RSF used a new methodology, with five new indicators for exercising press freedom: political, economic, legislative, social and security. The country ranked 134th in the political context, 126th in the legal framework, 169th in economic, 115th in sociocultural and 159th in security.

Southeast Asia is no bastion of press freedom, but the Philippines still ranked lower in the index than its neighbors Brunei (144th place), Cambodia (142nd), Singapore (139th), Indonesia (117th), Thailand (115th) and Malaysia (113th). The Philippines was ahead only of Vietnam and Myanmar.

The countries at the top of the index are Norway, Denmark, Sweden, Estonia, Finland, Ireland, Portugal, Costa Rica, Lithuania and Liechtenstein. At the bottom, from the worst, are North Korea, Eritrea, Iran, Turkmenistan, Myanmar, China, Vietnam, Cuba, Iraq and Syria.

Malacañang was glad to note that at least the Philippines was not on the red list of the index or among the worst. But analysts have described the Philippines as “Patient Zero” in disinformation campaigns especially during elections. The depth of the problem is evident in the ongoing campaign that will be remembered for the pervasiveness of fake news, trolling and lies to promote candidacies – and the inability of about half of the population, according to a study, to recognize fake news.

Free societies are anchored on truthful, fair and accurate information, disseminated through reliable and accountable media. Press freedom in the country is under siege by an infodemic of lies and malicious disinformation. Innovative and strong measures are needed to confront this threat.