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MANILA – A sophisticated network of fake social media accounts mobilized in staunch defense of former Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte after his referral to the International Criminal Court (ICC) to answer charges regarding his controversial drug war. This orchestrated disinformation campaign, leveraging inauthentic profiles, sought to sway public opinion and shape narratives surrounding the legal proceedings against Duterte.
Fake Account Network Defends Duterte Amidst ICC Probe
Research conducted by a technology firm revealed that approximately one-third of social media accounts on platform X engaged in discussions about Duterte’s ICC referral were fake. These accounts largely praised Duterte while strongly criticizing the court, indicating a “deliberate, organized” campaign, according to the tech firm, Cyabra.
Cyabra noted the sophisticated nature of these accounts, making them challenging to distinguish from genuine users.
Disinformation Campaign and Philippine Elections
This aggressive surge of disinformation is now impacting discussions surrounding the upcoming Philippine mid-term elections next month, according to Cyabra, an Israel-based company specializing in artificial intelligence-driven fake account detection.
Cyabra’s findings align with concerns raised by Philippine lawmakers and researchers, highlighting increasingly advanced and “seamless” manipulation within a nation previously identified as “patient zero” for global disinformation.
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An additional, forthcoming study reviewed by Reuters suggests that up to 45% of conversations related to the elections – anticipated as a key contest between President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. and the Duterte faction – are being driven by inauthentic accounts, including sock puppets, avatars, and bots.
“Digital Warfare” Unfolding
“The situation we observed in the Philippines transcends a mere spike in disinformation; it constitutes digital warfare,” stated Cyabra CEO Dan Brahmy.
Brahmy emphasized that “these fake networks did not simply emerge – they actively shaped the conversation,” projecting that election-related accounts could amass approximately 54 million views.
“If such activity is overtly apparent in the Philippines, it would be imprudent to assume it is not occurring elsewhere as well,” Brahmy cautioned.
Cyabra stated that the origin of the fake accounts remains undetermined, though a single source is suspected. Representatives for the Marcos administration and Duterte did not respond to requests for comment.
Coordinated Disinformation Tactics
Cyabra characterized the degree of “coordinated disinformation” observed in the Philippines as substantially higher than the typical 7%-10% range detected in online discussions globally concerning “highly sensitive or polarizing” topics. The firm has monitored analogous campaigns worldwide, providing comparative data.
For instance, Cyabra’s analysis indicated that 16% of X accounts involved in discussions surrounding a Romanian election in December, which was ultimately cancelled due to allegations of Russian interference, were fake.
Prevalence of Fake Accounts in Philippine Politics
The utilization of fake accounts and paid influencers for political purposes is reportedly widespread in the Philippines. Multiple political factions purportedly rely on “click armies,” which are credited with contributing to Duterte’s presidential victory in 2016.
Analysts identified indicators of a troll army in the days following Duterte’s ICC referral. A surge of false claims permeated social media, with supporters asserting the ICC’s lack of jurisdiction, branding its actions as a “kidnapping,” and reportedly harassing victims.
Duterte’s Drug War Under Scrutiny
Duterte’s presidency, spanning from 2016 to 2022, was largely defined by his administration’s aggressive anti-drug operations. Philippine law enforcement agencies report that these operations resulted in the deaths of 6,200 suspects.
Cyabra, leveraging machine learning to identify fake accounts based on behavioral patterns, scrutinized 1,890 profiles that generated over 5,500 posts and comments on X regarding Duterte’s ICC referral.
Approximately one-third of these profiles were flagged as fake. These inauthentic accounts were responsible for over 1,300 posts, generating more than 7,000 engagements, including likes, comments, and shares, potentially reaching over 11.8 million views, according to Cyabra.
Cyabra observed that these accounts posted simultaneously, exhibiting coordinated activity spikes, sharing identical content, and promoting consistent hashtags and narratives.
“The content generated by the fake profiles demonstrated a clear objective: to amplify public support for Rodrigo Duterte and cultivate a sympathetic, legacy-focused narrative surrounding his referral to the ICC,” Cyabra stated.
Seamless Integration of Fake Profiles
The surge of pro-Duterte disinformation is bolstering the narrative that the ICC’s actions against him are orchestrated by the Marcos administration, according to Victor Andres “Dindo” Manhit, a Manila-based political analyst and founder of the Stratbase Group.
“No society is fully prepared to discern disinformation, but it is imperative that we, as a nation, combat it,” Manhit asserted.
Duterte’s ICC referral stems from accusations of murder as a crime against humanity during his drug crackdown, which garnered international condemnation.
The former president, who has not yet entered a plea, has a confirmation of charges hearing scheduled for September 23. In a Facebook post following his referral, Duterte stated, “I will be responsible for everything.”
This development signifies a notable shift in fortunes for the influential Duterte family, which previously formed a powerful alliance with Marcos, contributing to his substantial victory in the 2022 election, with Duterte’s daughter, Sara Duterte, serving as Vice President.
However, a subsequent falling out between the two has occurred, and analysts interpret the upcoming mid-term elections, encompassing over 18,200 contested seats, as a potential proxy contest between Marcos and Duterte.
Fake Profiles in Election Discussions
Cyabra’s research identified the proliferation of fake profiles discussing the polls and expressing viewpoints across the political spectrum. Among 2,154 profiles examined by Cyabra between January 1 and March 10, 37% were classified as fake.
In a sample of 3,033 profiles discussing an administration-backed coalition, Cyabra determined that approximately 45% were fake.
These profiles were “strategically interconnected to amplify each other’s content,” creating the “illusion of widespread public support or opposition,” characterized by coordinated bursts of engagement and posting frequencies exceeding human capabilities.
According to Cyabra, numerous fake profiles interacted with genuine accounts, enabling them to “blend seamlessly into discussions,” engaging with journalists, participating in debates, and reacting in real-time.
“To a casual observer scrolling through social media, there is no immediately apparent indication of inauthenticity – they are designed to blend in seamlessly.”