Social Manipulation and Disinformation in the Philippines

Abstract

This chapter examines how, under President Rodrigo Duterte’s leadership, the Philippines government has implemented a unique method of digital repression to advance its political objectives. It focuses on four issues. First, it discusses what set of political factors and governance trends enabled an illiberal populist like Duterte to get elected in the first place. Second, it describes key drivers of digital repression in the Philippines—focusing on social manipulation and disinformation strategies deployed by Duterte’s administration. Third, it explains how digital repression works in the Philippines, outlining the mix of strategies Duterte employs to advance his political objectives. Fourth, it investigates the extent to which outside actors—such as Facebook or the Chinese government—are responsible for enabling the spread of digital repression in the country.