There are reportedly coordinated networks of social media accounts operated by Chinese nationals that are actively spreading anti-President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. content while promoting Vice President Sara Duterte.
RH Milky Rigonan reported that PressOne PH presented its findings on Foreign Influence Operations (FIO) and Foreign Information Manipulation and Interference (FIMI) in the Philippines during the TriCom hearing.
According to Niceforo Balbedina II, Chinese state media is spreading questionable narratives about the tensions in the West Philippine Sea, while social media content related to Vice President Duterte is being amplified.
“Kasagsagan ng March hanggang July, meron po kaming monitor na Chinese state media na actively po na nagso-sow ng iba’t ibang at mga kuwestyonableng impormasyon tungkol sa sigalot sa West Philippine Sea,” Balbedina said.
“At ito po yung pinaka-latest na meron po kami na hukay na pro-China na network of X accounts na nagsususog ng anti-Philippine sentiment, habang nagpupush ng content related po kay Vice President Sara Duterte,” he added.
China Daily, China’s most prominent English-language newspaper, and its TikTok affiliate “Media Unlocked” are among the identified sources of AI-generated disinformation content.
Balbedina explained that after PressOne PH published its investigative stories on the said channel, they were flooded with negative comments from Filipinos, leading to the content being taken down.
Moreove, it reappeared following a sudden surge of millions of followers despite having no content.
Balbedina further noted that many of these followers came from Spanish-speaking countries with no apparent interest in the West Philippine Sea, raising suspicions that they were bot-generated, purchased, or acquired through online growth services.
The TriCom is comprised of the Committees on Public Order and Safety, Public Information, and Information and Communications Technology, all chaired by Representatives Dan Fernandez, Jose “Joboy” S. Aquino II, and Tobias “Toby” Tiangco, respectively.
Additionally, the Committee was established to investigate the widespread dissemination of false and malicious content on social media platforms, while also protecting freedom of speech and ensuring digital safety.
