Globe reminds netizens to be more careful online

More people now use the internet as their primary source of news, but along with it, the danger of being lured with false information. Advanced technologies have made the proliferation of these manipulated content and media more sophisticated.

One of the most widespread types of manipulated content involves deepfake — videos that have been expertly edited to replace the person in the original material with someone else, usually a public figure. The aim may be to create confusion, deceive the public, cause reputation damage, or spread fake news, among other reasons.

Since it is very easy to take presented information at face value, Globe has made the Digital Discernment eModule under its Digital Thumbprint Program (DTP) available via its YouTube channel and Globe Bridging Communities Facebook Page. The Digital Discernment eModule serves as a guide to help netizens be conscious of the content they consume. 

“The internet provides easy access to information, but not everything is real and verified. It’s important to always be critical of what we see online. As responsible digital citizens, let us do our part to deter these threats by stopping its spread and reporting malicious content,” said Yoly Crisanto, Globe Chief Sustainability Officer and SVP for Corporate Communications.

To tell if videos are deepfakes, the Digital Discernment eModule lists the following tips: 

• Carefully look at the difference of color whenever the subject speaks or the angle changes
• Check for blurred spots, especially between the face and the neck
• See if there are unnatural eye movements, facial expressions, and body movements
• Observe if the speaker’s emotion matches their speech or if lip movements match

When in doubt, netizens must research and verify with legitimate news and established entertainment sources if the videos are authentic.

Earlier, Globe created two other DTP eModules: Digital Insight, which deals on cybersecurity and safety, and Digital Impact, which is about online responsibility and etiquette.

“We have transitioned our highly successful DTP program into eModules to adjust to these changing times. People are online more often, and we want to create a safer digital environment for netizens. These bite-sized eModules present important lessons on digital citizenship in a very approachable fashion,” Crisanto said.

DTP is a series of workshops patterned after the Optus Digital Thumbprint in-school program in Australia. Each module aims to increase students’ knowledge of digital citizenship and cybersafety by taking a critical look at their online behavior and helping them develop insights into the influences of the online world and the choices they are making.

The company strongly supports the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (UN SDG), particularly UN SDG No. 4 on Quality Education and UN SDG No. 9 on Infrastructure, Innovation and Industrialization. Globe is committed to upholding the United Nations Global Compact principles and contributing to 10 UN SDGs.

To learn more about Globe’s sustainability efforts, visit https://www.globe.com.ph/about-us/sustainability.html