Philstar.com, MindaNews help spot AI fakery online

CHEERS TO Philstar.com and MindaNews for stepping up with critical reporting about the use of artificial intelligence (AI) to manipulate public opinion, offering practical tools to help identify AI-generated content online, especially amid political controversy.

The reports followed Senator Ronald “Bato” Dela Rosa’s post on his official Facebook page a fabricated video allegedly showing students protesting the impeachment of Vice President Sara Duterte. The clip was visibly manufactured, with the faces and voices in the video showing the hallmarks of generative AI – the illegible lettering on school uniforms, and the echo resonating in the footage.  

Dela Rosa dismissed the questions about the video’s origin, claiming the message mattered more than its source. 

News outlets recorded reactions of government officials and published fact-checks on Dela Rosa’s post. House prosecutors condemned Senator Dela Rosa’s dismissal, saying that even if the video supported his views, it was still “a lie” meant to mislead the public. The Office of the President also responded, calling the spread of disinformation by public officials “dangerous” and a threat to public trust. 

However, Vice President Sara Duterte, whose impeachment the video opposed, said she saw “nothing wrong” with the sharing of an AI-generated video as long as it’s not for profit.

Philstar.com responded with a news piece that examined the video, identifying the signs of AI manipulation, including mismatched lip movements, glitchy visuals, and robotic narration. 

With more context, the report provided the necessary background; mainly Dela Rosa’s political efforts to defend Sara Duterte and reject impeachment proceedings against the VP. The public needs to understand the political issues that divide the political parties and their supporters. 

Philstar.com in its account cited Filipino journalist Regine Cabato, whose reports have focused on disinformation and influence operations, saying that public officials like Dela Rosa should bear the greater responsibility for upholding the truth in any political controversy. Their duty includes the rejection of false content and making sure that they are not acting as “superspreaders” of such disinformation. 

She emphasized that lawmakers, in particular, should rely on verified information for their official decisions, such as voting on impeachment, rather than reinforcing their own biases. Responding to Dela Rosa’s defense that one can accept a message even if it comes from a questionable source, Cabato countered that the medium and the message are inherently linked—and cannot be separated.

MindaNews followed with an explainer with detailed fact-checks, providing clear and practical tips, such as watching out for the eight-second clip intervals associated with certain AI tools, the inconsistent textures or oddly rendered logos, false backdrops, and duplicated voices, among others.

MindaNews cited a viral post from EXE Tech Solutions, a local tech page, showing signs of AI-generated content: distorted faces, echoes, and frame repetition. The report demonstrated these characteristics, using Dela Rosa’s video to confirm its AI origins. 

The report listed the use of authoritative sources, fact-checking examples, and media literacy guidelines to help the public navigate the landscape of AI-generated disinformation.

It issued a clear warning that with greater use of generative tools, the line between real and fake will blur even more. Journalism must be ready to counter the use of falsehood and propaganda, especially when public officials are involved in its exercise. 

Ironically, advances in communication technology provide tools that can spread both verified news and false propaganda. The challenge calls journalists to develop the necessary skills to detect misinformation and outright lies, countering these with factual explainers that appeal to the audience. 

The integrity of the public forum and the exchange it fosters are at stake, calling for dedicated and focused journalism at all fronts.