Information threats in times of crises and the need to stay united

The current global outbreak of the Covid-19 virus has created fear and in some cases panic among people worried about risks to their health and that of their loved ones.

A lack of detailed understanding of the latest virus and its rapid spread when compared to other better-known illnesses have led to further confusion and consternation among citizens all around the world.

Even as the number of confirmed patients and deaths continue to rise globally, and Singapore braces for its first fatality from the virus, this latest global crisis has highlighted some key vulnerabilities in terms of the information environment.

MISINFORMATION, DISINFORMATION AND MAL-INFORMATION

Technological developments and changes in consumer behaviour in recent years have prompted experts to draw a distinction between the concepts of misinformation, disinformation and mal-information.

Misinformation has been defined as a broader category of information that is false but not created with the intention of causing harm.

Disinformation is false and deliberately created to harm a person, social group, organisation or country, while mal-information refers to information that is based on reality but which is used to inflict harm on individuals and larger groups.

These concepts are not so ubiquitous as to have garnered broad public attention or understanding, but they are becoming increasingly relevant to all societies.

While such tools have been deployed in the past, most famously during elections in major countries such as the US as part of foreign interference campaigns, the latest Covid-19 crisis has underlined how they can also impact open and highly connected countries such as Singapore.

In recent weeks, there have been examples of disruptive behaviour on a national scale, including panic buying of certain products and scenes of attempted hoarding by people in Singapore.

These have been driven in part by information circulating on various platforms that contradict official advice and recommendations by global and local authorities, and in some cases include outlandish and unconventional claims.

These have ranged from a theory that the government is not recommending the use of masks by all people as there is a looming shortage of those products contrary to what politicians have said, to shared recipes of various brews, potions and remedies which supposedly counteract the Covid-19. These include advice to hang raw onions by the window to “absorb germs”.

Interestingly, one of the more visible effects among consumers here was a run on toilet paper, with many supermarkets and shops reporting completely empty shelves of the essential bathroom product.

It is possible to extrapolate from fears of a national emergency leading to some people wanting to stock up on a daily necessity, but it is odd that it would be among the first things to be snapped up by panicky buyers.

Some experts point to similar behaviour in Taiwan and Hong Kong, apparently triggered by falsehoods about raw materials typically used to manufacture toilet paper being diverted to make surgical masks. 

Reports said that some consumers feared that increasing infections would make it unsafe to go shopping, while others were concerned that the Chinese economy would be weakened by the outbreak and unable to keep exporting the goods which many rely on. 

Even if these stories were true, Singapore is not directly impacted by such developments. But it could be a case of “monkey see, monkey do”, sparked by falsehoods abroad.

Fact-checkers in Singapore and around the world noted a surge in “fake news” surrounding the virus outbreak, and rushed to debunk those which posed a serious threat to public health and safety.

There is no clear evidence of whether these fall under misinformation, disinformation or mal-information. In many such cases, it’s hard to discern between genuine but misguided concern, mischief and tomfoolery, or something more nefarious.

At the same time, it is perhaps more important to note the effects rather than focus solely on the motives.

The panic buying and hoarding behaviour demonstrated by some people had implications for stocks of products, which while adequate, are also not infinite. Hoarding of certain products also mean that those with urgent and pressing need for them could be deprived.

In the longer term, such behaviour encourages people to focus on their own individual wants and needs, without consideration for those around them. It also creates a false dichotomy where even the more rational among us feel driven to adopt similar behaviours to avoid “losing out” in the event that the majority behave in that way.

CRISES CREATE VULNERABILITIES

A common saying goes: “A little knowledge is a dangerous thing”. In today’s hyper-connected, digitally enabled and mobile-driven world, that could be rephrased as: “A lot of disparate knowledge from a plethora of known and unknown sources is a very dangerous thing”.

The challenges this presents are amplified in times of crises, when fear and instincts that drive us towards self-preservation overtake common sense, rational thought and calm behaviour.

A perceived imminent threat to one’s safety and survival typically triggers the “flight or fight” instinct in people, which is not conducive for sensible evaluation of data and information.

In the world of information and interference operations, these are ideal scenarios for bad actors to exploit through the use of online falsehoods, manipulation of “fake news” and other techniques designed to tap or inflame public sentiment and emotion in order to achieve their desired objective. This could be to influence an election or destabilise a country and its economy, for example.

STANDING TOGETHER

So what can be done to address such threats in a time of heightened vulnerability, such as the Covid-19 crisis?

Authorities around the world are exploring all options, ranging from cyber defence to legislation, such as Singapore’s Protection from Online Falsehoods and Manipulation Act. At the same time, other stakeholders including non-government civil society organisations, independent fact-checkers, education institutions and the media all have a part to play in countering information threats.

As we mark Total Defence Day in Singapore on Saturday (Feb 15), its message of the need for everyone to play their part in national defence is more relevant than ever, for we are not dealing with a hypothetical existential threat, but a clear and present danger.

Total Defence is a comprehensive defence strategy based on the understanding that besides military action, aggressors can attack the country economically, tear its social fabric apart, target Singaporeans' beliefs and commitment to defence, and its ability to recover from natural and man-made disasters. 

It is based around six key pillars — military, civil, economic, social, psychological and digital defence. The last pillar was added last year in recognition of the growing cyber and technological threats being seen around the world.

Singapore’s adoption of such a strategy in 1984 seems prescient in light of today’s threats.

When translated to the triple threat of misinformation, disinformation and mal-information, the notion of each citizen doing his or her part, and standing together with his countrymen, seems more than just a patriotic call to action.

Experts have said that countering information operations, fake news or deliberate online falsehoods requires a citizenry that is informed, educated and alert to such threats.

But if today’s threats target a country’s cohesion and unity, then the antidote would logically be a resilient and united society.

To that end, it has been heartening to see that the Covid-19 crisis has transcended traditional societal divisions, including political battlelines.

Some opposition parties, including the Workers' Party (WP), had earlier echoed the government’s call for Singaporeans to stay united, remain calm and heed instructions from the various ministries.

It also urged people to avoid fear-mongering by speculating or spreading rumours online, advising instead to refer to official announcements or news from major news outlets.

The sentiments were shared by the Progress Singapore Party and the Singapore Democratic Party (SDP).

The SDP said that Singaporeans should "refrain from manufacturing fake news and spreading rumours about the coronavirus that is spreading in Singapore and around the world”. It added: “Alarming the public through such misinformation only harms our community and ourselves".

In addition to sharing posts from some of his parliamentary colleagues from the People’s Action Party, WP leader Pritam Singh also wrote on his Facebook page: “In times of crisis, political aberrations and politics should not stand between a unity of purpose amongst fellow Singaporeans.”

If such closing of ranks at the political level is mirrored across other strata of society, then perhaps we can breathe a little easier as we ride out the current Covid-19 crisis, which looks far from being resolved at the moment.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Nicholas Fang is the founder and managing director of a strategic communications consultancy and a market research agency which runs an independent fact-checking platform. A former Nominated Member of Parliament, he chairs the Ministry of Defence Strategic Communications Expert Panel.