Palace joins campaign against misinformation
MALACAÑANG on Sunday partnered with giant social media companies Meta, Google and TikTok in the campaign against misinformation and disinformation.The Presidential Communications Office (PCO) reiterated the need to address misinformation and disinformation being spread online against the government and certain personalities."We are starting with our digital defense today because it is very clear to us that misinformation and disinformation campaigns against the government programs, and against the persons within the administration are increasingly prevalent," PCO Undersecretary for Digital Media Services Emerald Ridao said during the UniComm 2024 gathering in the Bayleaf in Intramuros, Manila. Ridao said, "We're hoping that together we can ban and really put an end to this problem within our digital sphere."Also at the event were officials from Meta (Facebook), Google and TikTok, who shared their insights on combatting misinformation and disinformation. The "Tech Talks" during the UniComm 2024 served as a rallying point for stakeholders from the government and private sectors to unite in the fight against digital misinformation.Discussions centered on the present administration's strategies to fortify digital defenses amid the rising tide of misinformation campaigns targeting officials and government programs. Meta Public Manager Genixon David reminded the public to always keep their social media accounts secured, as he stressed that the security of one's social media account "is dependent on the security" of their account. Users should make their passwords "strong and unique" to reduce the risk of being hacked.They should avoid using their name, birthday, address or other identities as their passwords, and avoid reusing passwords in multiple accounts to avoid being compromised."The security checkup will help you log out of unused apps and browsers, manager alerts, and strengthen your password. While the privacy checkup will help you review who gets in your posts and information from your profile, like your phone number and email address," David said. Google Head of Government Affairs Yves Gonzales said YouTube bans content that poses a serious risk, such as spreading medical information that contradicts local health authorities or guidelines set by the World Health Organization.Gonzales said YouTube's mission is to give the public a voice on social media and give them the go-to platform where they will learn, get entertained and create an audience through their channel. "YouTube has basically democratized having an audience, as an open platform, users like you, [like] individual users and governments come to YouTube on a voluntary basis, and you have the full control over when, if and what kind of content you choose to upload," he said. TikTok head of public policy in the Philippines and Malaysia Toff Rada stressed the significance of building "critical thinking," especially when users cannot distinguish between right and wrong content. "Even if you remove the bad pieces of content, even if you put up the right pieces of content if your user cannot distinguish between right and wrong, then it is of no use. So, I think we have to build that critical thinking," Rada said.
Tomas Kauer - Moderator 
MALACAÑANG on Sunday partnered with giant social media companies Meta, Google and TikTok in the campaign against misinformation and disinformation.
The Presidential Communications Office (PCO) reiterated the need to address misinformation and disinformation being spread online against the government and certain personalities.
"We are starting with our digital defense today because it is very clear to us that misinformation and disinformation campaigns against the government programs, and against the persons within the administration are increasingly prevalent," PCO Undersecretary for Digital Media Services Emerald Ridao said during the UniComm 2024 gathering in the Bayleaf in Intramuros, Manila.
Ridao said, "We're hoping that together we can ban and really put an end to this problem within our digital sphere."
Also at the event were officials from Meta (Facebook), Google and TikTok, who shared their insights on combatting misinformation and disinformation.
The "Tech Talks" during the UniComm 2024 served as a rallying point for stakeholders from the government and private sectors to unite in the fight against digital misinformation.
Discussions centered on the present administration's strategies to fortify digital defenses amid the rising tide of misinformation campaigns targeting officials and government programs.
Meta Public Manager Genixon David reminded the public to always keep their social media accounts secured, as he stressed that the security of one's social media account "is dependent on the security" of their account.
Users should make their passwords "strong and unique" to reduce the risk of being hacked.
They should avoid using their name, birthday, address or other identities as their passwords, and avoid reusing passwords in multiple accounts to avoid being compromised.
"The security checkup will help you log out of unused apps and browsers, manager alerts, and strengthen your password. While the privacy checkup will help you review who gets in your posts and information from your profile, like your phone number and email address," David said.
Google Head of Government Affairs Yves Gonzales said YouTube bans content that poses a serious risk, such as spreading medical information that contradicts local health authorities or guidelines set by the World Health Organization.
Gonzales said YouTube's mission is to give the public a voice on social media and give them the go-to platform where they will learn, get entertained and create an audience through their channel.
"YouTube has basically democratized having an audience, as an open platform, users like you, [like] individual users and governments come to YouTube on a voluntary basis, and you have the full control over when, if and what kind of content you choose to upload," he said.
TikTok head of public policy in the Philippines and Malaysia Toff Rada stressed the significance of building "critical thinking," especially when users cannot distinguish between right and wrong content.
"Even if you remove the bad pieces of content, even if you put up the right pieces of content if your user cannot distinguish between right and wrong, then it is of no use. So, I think we have to build that critical thinking," Rada said.
