Influence Operations During Elections in the Philippines and Beyond: A Conversation with Michael Navallo

Power 3.0 | Authoritarian Resurgence, Democratic Resilience

With more than fifty national elections taking place during 2024, in countries that comprise more than half the world’s population, it has never been more critical to secure the integrity of the information space—and never more challenging. The Philippines has been reckoning with this challenge since at least its 2016 election, which led some to refer to the country as “Patient Zero” for its early experience with industrial-scale information manipulation, designed to confuse and manipulate the public. Michael Navallo is a Filipino journalist, lawyer, and a former Reagan-Fascell Democracy Fellow, who serves as Chief Communications Officer for the Supreme Court of the Philippines. On this episode of Power 3.0, Michael joined John K. Glenn and Adam Fivenson from the Forum to discuss the evolution of information manipulation in the Philippines and how democracy activists can respond. Together, they discuss the actors who amplify anti-democratic narratives and share lessons for the response around the globe. For further insights on related issues, check out the International Forum’s companion blog, “Power 3.0 Understanding Modern Authoritarian Influence.” You can find additional resources on the Information Space Integrity research hub and join the conversation with us on Facebook, LinkedIn, and X. The views expressed in this podcast represent the opinions and analysis of the participants and do not necessarily reflect those of the National Endowment for Democracy or its staff. Photo Credit: Reagan-Fascell Democracy Fellowship Staff.