The 2022 Philippines elections were heavily influenced by agent provocateurs and shadowy networks of disinformation that hired troll armies to spread falsehoods and sow chaos on social media. The ultimate goal was to manipulate public opinion in one of the most fiercely contested elections, involving 67 million Filipinos.

Filipinos are the most active social media users globally, spending an average of 4 hours and 15 minutes daily. This high engagement, fueled by a lack of public spaces and a large overseas migrant worker population, makes the country particularly vulnerable to online disinformation, which has intensified due to COVID-19 lockdowns.

Disinformation involves deliberate attempts to spread false information, often weaponized by politicians. These campaigns, which date back to 2016, involve developing narratives, onboarding influencers and fake account operators, and widespread dissemination. Former President Rodrigo Duterte even admitted to hiring trolls during his 2016 campaign.

Individuals like 'Sharon' are part of a large for-hire market for trolls in the Philippines. With an average monthly salary of around US$204, a troll can earn up to US$1,350 a month, making it a financially attractive option for many. These trolls often work from home, spreading lies and targeting emotions with fake profiles.

Investigative journalists, like Rappler's Don Kevin Hapal, have uncovered systematic, coordinated troll networks. They observed suspicious patterns in trending hashtags promoting specific candidates, with accounts often created around the same time. These journalists face harassment and threats, confirming that trolls are part of larger, organized operations.

Disinformation campaigns occur across the political spectrum, involving multiple political camps. Research identified 'chief architects'—ad and PR people, often former journalists—who manage these operations. They control most of the funding, with only 20% allocated to operational expenses and paying trolls.

Nearly 50% of Filipinos rely on social media for news about the government, making it a powerful channel for weaponized information. Popular YouTube channels, like 'Showbiz Fanaticz,' were observed switching from celebrity content to political content to bait audiences and spread disinformation, often after politicians bought and rebranded these accounts.

Social media algorithms personalize content, showing users what they want to see, which can unintentionally reward disinformative and trolling behavior. This creates echo chambers where users perceive a skewed reflection of reality, making it difficult to discern truth and promoting engagement for advertising revenue.

Investigative journalists and former Facebook employees, like 'Andy,' monitor and identify paid troll accounts. While Facebook has taken down networks, trolls adapt by using multiple SIM cards and sophisticated methods to mask their trails, making it challenging for platforms to detect coordinated inauthentic behavior.

Digital influencers, like 'Brandon,' are hired by politicians to create viral videos, memes, and comments that hurt opponents' credibility. These individuals, often with skills from the entertainment industry, find it lucrative to produce and share disinformation, demonstrating a common practice among politicians to sway public opinion.

The Commission on Elections (COMELEC) in the Philippines is hampered by the lack of specific laws against trolling and disinformation in elections. This makes it difficult to prosecute offenders and track illicit campaign spending. Law enforcement struggles to keep pace with new technologies and the evolving tactics of disinformation networks.

Organizations like Vera Files and Tsek.ph are battling disinformation by fact-checking articles. Their findings reveal that Ferdinand 'Bongbong' Marcos Jr. benefited most from disinformation, with campaigns distorting facts about his father's accomplishments, while Leni Robredo was the biggest target of negative disinformation. Tsek.ph's efforts aim to provide verified information in real-time.

Ferdinand 'Bongbong' Marcos Jr. won the presidency in a landslide. While there's no conclusive data linking falsehoods directly to the election outcome, online disinformation is clearly threatening democracy by incapacitating citizens from making informed decisions. It fosters echo chambers, tribalism, and hinders consensus, undermining the foundations of democratic debate.