Online disinformation concern hits record high

Concern over online misand disinformation in the Philippines climbed to a record 67% in early 2025 amid a politically charged midterm election season that saw Vice President Sara Duterte impeached on corruption charges and former president Rodrigo Duterte arrested by the International Criminal Court for crimes against humanity tied to his brutal drug war.

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This was the highest level recorded since the country was included in the Reuters Institute Digital News Report (DNR) in 2020. The latest edition, which polled 97,055 respondents across 48 markets in six continents online from mid-January to late February, including 2,014 adult Filipinos, was released on June 17.

This year’s report also highlights how Filipinos have been increasingly turning to podcasts and AI chatbots for news while remaining cautious about fully automated journalism. It also documents rising verification habits, shifting platform preferences, and evolving trust dynamics.

WHO SPREADS DISINFORMATION?

The four-point rise in concern about misand disinformation from 2024 (63%) and 10-point leap from 2020 (57%) place the Philippines nine points above this year’s global average of 58% and seven points above the average for the Asia Pacific region (60%). The steady climb in these concerns over six years underscores a growing sense of public anxiety about the spread of false or misleading content online.