Tosca Looby Discusses ‘The Matter of Facts’ and the Assault on Truth

A staggering 97% of Australians lack the necessary skills to verify information online, according to findings highlighted in a new ABC documentary series that explores the growing crisis of digital misinformation.

“The Matter of Facts,” a three-part series produced by Northern Pictures in association with Media Ocean, premieres March 24, 2026, on ABC and ABC iview. Hosted by veteran journalist Hamish Macdonald and directed by Tosca Looby, the documentary examines how digital deception affects real-world outcomes.

“We all think we’re too smart to be fooled, and actually statistically the more you think that, the more likely you are to be duped,” Looby explained in a recent interview. This uncomfortable truth forms the backbone of the series, which systematically dismantles the notion that education or intelligence provides immunity against online manipulation.

Tech ethicist Tristan Harris, featured in the documentary, argues that social media platforms exploit fundamental evolutionary structures in our brains, bypassing intellect entirely. The series demonstrates this through practical examples, including a multitasking test that Macdonald himself failed—scoring worse than university students tested alongside him.

In another revealing segment, Macdonald’s mother participated in an experiment to determine if she could distinguish between a real image of her son and an AI-generated one. The results reinforced research showing humans perform no better than chance when identifying AI-created faces.

The production team faced significant challenges in visualizing abstract concepts like algorithmic bias and digital manipulation. Looby emphasized her determination to avoid clichéd visuals of “people looking at computers,” instead seeking active scenarios that would engage viewers while illustrating complex ideas.

To ground these abstract concepts, the documentary examines the contentious debate over wild brumbies at Mount Kosciuszko as a microcosm of information tribalism. The community’s deep division—where half claim the horses are largely absent while others know them by name—illustrates what Looby describes as “the crux for the whole series: What happens when we don’t believe anything anymore?”

The global dimension of misinformation is explored through the documentary team’s visit to the Philippines, where they witnessed the outsized role of social media influencers in political campaigns. With 90 million social media users in the country, influencers significantly shape voting patterns, prompting the Electoral Commission to presume that influencers promoting party platforms are being paid.

Nobel Peace Prize winner Maria Ressa appears in the series, warning that social media tactics tested in the Philippines often spread globally. “She talks about this murky water that we swim in and our increasing inability to recognize when we’re in it,” Looby noted, summarizing Ressa’s message as simply, “Wake up.”

Producing a documentary about misinformation required rigorous fact-checking. “I would say we do land in the 3% of people who know how to fact-check,” Looby stated, noting that the script is heavily footnoted. She reflected on the acceleration of online misinformation since directing “Strong Female Lead” about former Prime Minister Julia Gillard in 2013, observing that “the sheer volume of digital vitriol has evolved at a terrifying pace.”

Despite immersing herself in what she calls “the darkest corners of the internet” for a year, Looby remains optimistic. She points to growing public interest in digital literacy programs at local libraries as evidence of a shifting awareness.

Following this exploration of truth’s global collapse, Looby plans to pivot to more lighthearted subject matter. “I’m looking to do a feature documentary next, and I’m looking for projects that have laughter in them,” she said. “I am going for laughs.”