Digital Media Fueling Disinformation Campaigns Against Indigenous Land Defenders, Study Finds

A new study by Bangkok-based Asia Centre reveals that the rapid expansion of online news, smartphones, and social media over the past decade has enabled coordinated smear campaigns against Indigenous land defenders in the Philippines, creating new vulnerabilities for communities already on the frontlines of climate change.

“Climate disinformation’s intent is to deceive the public and distort climate discourse, which ultimately contributes to the marginalization of Indigenous Peoples and the negation of their identity by excluding them from climate decision-making,” said Dave Gomez, regional director of Asia Centre.

The research, titled “Climate Disinformation in the Philippines: Legitimising Attacks on Indigenous Peoples,” highlights how digital transformation has dramatically reshaped the Philippine media landscape. Currently, 82 percent of Filipinos obtain news online and 63 percent via social media, while print media reaches just 13 percent of the population.

This shift reflects broader digital engagement trends, with approximately 90.8 million Filipinos—78 percent of the population—actively using social platforms, making the Philippines one of the world’s most digitally connected nations. The digital sector is projected to account for 42 percent of the country’s $6.5 billion media revenue by 2024, outpacing traditional television and print media.

Despite these advances, researchers note significant “structural disparities” in digital access. Indigenous communities in remote regions often experience the greatest barriers to online participation, with many still relying on radio for news, public warnings, and daily communication. Government surveys confirm radio remains the most accessible medium for marginalized and geographically isolated communities across the Philippines.

A particularly concerning trend documented in the report is “red-tagging”—the practice of falsely labeling Indigenous Peoples, environmental activists, and journalists as communists or terrorists to strip them of legal protections and social credibility. This tactic creates what researchers describe as a “culture of digital hostility” that can legitimize both online and physical attacks against targeted individuals and communities.

The 2025 Global Witness survey cited in the report found that 90 percent of Filipino land and environmental defenders have experienced online abuse linked to accusations about their political affiliations. Despite the severity of these coordinated attacks, major platforms like Meta have been criticized for inadequate moderation of content that incites violence.

Beverly Longid, a Bontok-Kankanaey Indigenous leader from the Cordillera region and national convener of Katribu, exemplifies these challenges. As an activist opposing projects threatening Indigenous lands, she has endured years of red-tagging, including doctored photographs depicting her with demonic features and public accusations during a police-livestreamed Facebook news conference in 2020 that labeled her a recruiter for the New People’s Army, a communist group.

The report also documents how companies exploit digital platforms to fabricate Indigenous consent for environmentally harmful projects. In 2022, the Makilala Mining Company claimed on its website that it had received certification for free, prior, and informed consent from the Balatoc community for its Copper Gold Project in the Cordillera Administrative Region—a narrative amplified by several media outlets.

Community members disputed these claims, stating that the company failed to secure consensus from all Balatoc members and neglected to consult neighboring communities that would also experience environmental impacts from the mining operation. The company allegedly circulated a photograph showing an agreement signing with the province’s governor, who was reportedly only present as a witness to the document.

“The same connectivity that amplifies Indigenous voices also exposes them to new vulnerabilities,” the researchers concluded. “Climate disinformation, digital harassment, and coordinated online attacks have become acute threats, particularly for Indigenous and environmental defenders.”

The findings underscore how digital transformation has created a double-edged sword for Indigenous communities fighting for environmental justice—offering new platforms for advocacy while simultaneously enabling sophisticated disinformation campaigns designed to undermine their legal standing and public credibility.