Public series on disinformation 2025

In October, RAPP hosted a three-part public series called ‘Information under Pressure /Informacion bou Presion’ dedicated to one of the most urgent issues facing Aruba today: disinformation and its impact on journalism, democracy, and our communities. Each session had a different lens: from journalism, to governance, to national security, but one insight came back every time:

• Disinformation is a shared risk.
• And resilience is a shared responsibility.

Session 1: Disinformation & the Role of Journalists

The opening panel brought together local journalists and media professionals who shared honest experiences about the challenges of verifying information in a fast-paced media environment, as well as the decline in trust in media and how journalists can reflect on their practices to rebuild this trust. The dialogue with the audience revealed how deeply disinformation impacts:

• community perception
• newsroom routines
• institutional trust

In our panel, Sharina Henriquez, Aldric Werleman, and Mark Benson Denz shared their professional experiences as we tried to frame the issue from diverse journalistic angles. Their insights highlighted the need for stronger tools, ethics, collaboration, and awareness to navigate misinformation in Aruba’s media landscape.

Session 2: Democracy Under Pressure

For the second session, we had the honor of welcoming Anselmo Pontilius, Government Mediator and Chair of Stichting Deugdelijk Bestuur Aruba. His contribution highlighted the serious consequences of fake news and disinformation for good governance and democracy.
Key takeaways from the conversation with the audience included:

• The urgent need to mitigate the risks of spreading disinformation.
• The importance of norms and values as the foundation of any democratic society.
• The reminder that ‘democracy is not just something we practice during elections, it is a daily responsibility’.

Session 3: National Security, Cyber Threats & Vulnerability

In our final session, Marylin Spagnol-De Kort (Interim CISO for Government of Aruba & Nationatal Security of Aruba) addressed how cyberattacks and fake news increasingly overlap. Her presentation illustrated the vulnerabilities within our digital ecosystem and emphasized the importance of informed behaviour.

Key takeaways:

• National security affects daily life — it is not an abstract concept
• Cybersecurity begins with awareness
• The most vulnerable groups are often the most targeted
• True resilience is built collectively: by government, media, civil society, and the community

During this session, we also shared findings from RAPP’s public opinion survey, showing that people in Aruba:

• frequently encounter disinformation
• have become more cautious and critical
• are actively seeking education, tools, and trustworthy information sources

The results confirm the strong need for continued dialogue and structured fact-checking support.

Across all three sessions, one message stood out:
Our community wants clarity, guidance, and trustworthy journalism.

For RAPP, this reinforces the importance of continuing to strengthen media literacy, support journalistic professionalism and press freedom, promote fact-based information and engage the public in open dialogue.

These sessions mark only the beginning. RAPP remains committed to building an informed, resilient society and is already working on a second edition in 2026.