The digital war we must fight

Citizens make the ultimate expression of their democratic rights and their nationhood when they cast their votes during elections. In the secrecy of the ballot, they exercise their inherent right to choose the candidates they feel represent their interests and would champion their cause.

The assumption is that voters arrive at the decision on whom to vote for after a careful consideration of the facts.

The problem is, and we have been seeing this with each election that passes, it becomes increasingly difficult to separate facts from disinformation. This includes propaganda, distorted narratives, and altered versions of reality. None of these are unintentional: instead, such disinformation is manufactured and pushed by malign elements designed to manipulate the sentiments of people to achieve certain ends.

These ends naturally boil down to voting for or against certain personalities, who would in turn enjoy their reign of power after duly winning the elections.

Such machinations are hardly parochial in origin. In fact, they go by a new name: Fimi, or foreign information manipulation and interference operations. They unfold long before election day, and operate across multiple spaces.

In the Philippines, Fimi is most visible in the cognitive spaces. Here, certain narratives are pushed, trust in institutions is eroded, and discord is sown. The ultimate test of effectiveness–election results.

But what is this thing called Fimi? And why is the foreign factor so important in this conversation?

It all boils down to power. Some states seek power beyond their shores. They want the capacity to shape another country’s policies, priorities, and strategic direction over time. The payoff is handsome and evident: because the foreign influence had an active hand in shaping who actually gets to hold political power, it is virtually assured of “friendly” treatment. And “friendly” could mean a policy of accommodation, if not acquiescence, and a blind eye to transgressions.

By shaping who holds public office, foreign actors can influence policy directions favorable to its strategic interests without resorting to overt coercion or direct confrontation.

This is why we should keep our elected officials constantly on their toes. They must remember never to pursue interests that are not completely aligned with those of the electorate. Because they asked for our votes and because we are paying their salaries, they must realize that the consequences of their decisions can shape national security decisions, alter foreign policy orientation, and even compromise the country’s sovereign rights.

Filipinos’ reliance on the internet not only for work and education but on almost every aspect of their lives is precisely what Fimi exploits in order to achieve its sinister end. We may not realize it, but the increasing connectedness of everything and the easy access we provide to various platforms become the same places where Fimi is made available to catch our attention. Perhaps one article or statement will not sway people’s opinion immediately. However, if social media users are inundated each day with posts that repeat the same themes, share similar stories, and promote identical talking points—crafted to sound convincing even when unverified—eventually, users may give in.

Before they know it, social media users are already espousing an agenda, idealizing certain individuals while demonizing others, not from rigorous fact-checking but because of the Fimi barrage. Imagine repeating this with millions of individuals. This is how collective perception is shaped.

We must not allow this to happen.

Last week, the Stratbase Institute, in collaboration with the Embassy of Canada in the Philippines, held a two-day conference entitled “Navigating Digital Crossroads: Advancing Cybersecurity and Democratic Resilience in the Indo-Pacific.” We brought together stakeholders from government, the private sector, academe, civil society, and the international community to develop strategies aimed at protecting democratic processes and strengthening resilience in an increasingly contested digital environment.

The impassioned conversations expressed in the conference must translate into strategic action and sustain vigilance. Fimi thrives when we are complacent, divided, and careless with the truth. It falters when Filipinos think critically, demand accountability, and defend our sovereignty both online and offline. Our democracy is not only tested at the ballot box; it is tested every day in the information we consume, share, and believe.

We must fight this digital assault with discipline and resolve. We must affirm that our democracy is strong, our sovereignty is nonnegotiable, and the Filipino people—not foreign manipulators—will prevail and move our nation forward.

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Dindo Manhit is the founder and CEO of Stratbase Group.