This document discusses the role of public education in combating fake news. It begins by noting that over 25% of Singaporeans report encountering false news on social media. It then outlines various disinformation campaigns related to the coronavirus pandemic targeting different countries. The document explores why people create and spread disinformation, as well as how it spreads. It argues that public education around media literacy and critical thinking can strengthen defenses against online falsehoods. Specifically, it says education can help people discern truth from fake news and support grassroots initiatives. The document concludes by emphasizing the important role of public education in responding to disinformation.

1. z
Public Education:
Enhancing the first
line of defence
against fake news
Benjamin Ang
Head, Cyber Homeland Defence,
Centre of Excellence for National
Security, RSIS NTU
Twitter @benjaminang

2. z
Today
 The Landscape of Lies
 Impact on Public Educators
 Role of Public Educators

3. z
How often do [Singaporeans] come across
false news on social media … that turned
out to be wrong?
1. 5.3%
2. 10.8%
3. 15.2%
4. 25.5%
4

4. 25.5%
 Assoc Prof Edson C. Tandoc Jr., Survey of 2,501 Singaporeans
(December 2017)
5

5. z
What do you do when you see fake
news?
1. Post or share or comment publicly that
the news is false
2. Privately message the person who
shared the news that it’s false
3. Ignore the news and don’t tell anyone
6

6. z
Landscape of
Lies

7. z
Coronavirus
Campaigns against
Poland
(1) Accused of seizing more
than 23,000 protective
masks bound for Italy
(2) Accused of stopping
Russian planes from flying
over to send aid to Italy
https://www.wsj.com/articles/the-coronavirus-disinformation-campaign-against-poland-11585509765

8. z
Coronavirus
Campaigns from
the Kremlin
(1) Western bioweapon
(2) Italy: increase fear of
national and international
authorities
(3) Spain: blame capitalists
https://www.ft.com/content/d65736
da-684e-11ea-800d-da70cff6e4d3

9. z
Coronavirus
Campaigns between
USA and China
(1) US accused of spreading
virus from US soldiers to
Wuhan residents
(2) China accused of leaking
virus from a biochemical
warfare lab in Wuhan
https://www.nytimes.com/2020/03/13/world/asia/coronavirus-china-conspiracy-theory.html

10. z
Fake news
doesn’t have to
be foreign

11. z
Coronavirus
misinformation in
Belarus
Belarus president refuses to
cancel anything - and says
vodka and saunas will ward off
COVID-19
https://news.sky.com/story/coronavirus-belarus-
president-refuses-to-cancel-anything-and-says-
vodka-and-saunas-will-ward-off-coronavirus-
11965396

12. z
Random
Coronavirus
Conspiracies
(1) WHO knew all along
(2) Governments are covering
up death numbers
(3) Foreigners are coming to
take our hospital beds
https://www.ft.com/content/32a40a48-
5e19-11ea-b0ab-339c2307bcd4

13. z
Why do people start
this $#!+ ??
Stoke confusion, panic, fear,
xenophobia
Stop people obtaining good info
Subvert societies (races, religions,
nationalities, governments)
Disrupt international relations
Distract citizens from mistakes
Make profits (scams, cures)

14. z
Why do people
believe this $#!+ ??
(1) Fear + mistaken desire to
help / protect
(2) Need to find reasons
(3) Gossip instinct
(4) Confirmation bias
(5) Belief that official sources
aren’t telling the truth

15. z
How do they spread this $#!+ ?

16. z
17
Trolls &
bots
Social
Media
Media
Cyber
attacks
Activists
& NGOs
Friends
Politicians Business
Others

17. 18
RSIS Framework on
Foreign Influence vs
Interference

18. z
What does this
have to do with
Public
Education?

19. z
Essential
public education on media and
digital literacy, as well as
critical thinking, have an
essential role to play in
strengthening “individual
defences against deliberate
online falsehoods”
(Report of the Select Committee
on Deliberate Online
Falsehoods)

20. z
Educate the public
(1) educate people and equip
them with the skills to
discern truth from fake news
(2) support and encourage
ground-up campaigns and
initiatives to combat online
falsehoods.
(Report of the Select Committee
on Deliberate Online Falsehoods) https://www.todayonline.com/singapore/ntu-
undergraduates-create-campaign-combat-fake-
news-among-older-sporeans

21. z
Public Education
supports multiple
responses to
disinformation

22. z
23
Elves vs
Trolls
Social
Media
response
Media
Literacy
Cyber
Troops
Activists
& NGOs
Leaders
AI vs
bots Business
Schools
PUBLIC EDUCATION

23. z
The defences are
here, we have to
educate the public
to use them

24. z
NLB S.U.R.E.

25. z
Sure Anot

26. z One last case :
Coronavirus
Campaign in the
Ukraine
Dozens of protesters in a
Ukrainian town attacked buses
carrying evacuees from China
https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-51581805

27. z
We can teach
them. We must
teach them.

28. z
What are some
things we can
do?
Please give your ideas in the chat / comments