I have been contacted several times by people who were upset after seeing videos on the internet. In particular, they were upset by the alleged sweeping changes that our Pope, Pope Leo XIV, had made to church services. They even said these things were reported on major Catholic television networks.
Of course I had no idea what they were saying. So I did two things. I asked them if they had seen this in the mainstream news media. They told me “no”. One thing I was certain of was that if such drastic changes were imminent, diocesan officials would have already known about it, mainstream news channels would have covered the stories, and our public affairs office would have been contacted for comment. That didn’t happen.
I advised those who contacted me to be careful on the Internet. I told them that I was convinced that what they saw was not true. We also assured them that if any changes were made, the Vatican would send us information and instructions regarding their implementation.
I also promised to look into it. I looked it up online and quickly found the video in question. I looked at them and quickly concluded that they were fictional and generated by people using artificial intelligence (AI). Both videos had an animated look and a semi-robotic sound and tone reminiscent of AI videos. Both videos also contained obvious factual errors, such as referring to the current pope as “Pope Leo I Dash XV” instead of Pope Leo XIV (properly pronounced “14”, of course).
I also checked the Catholic Television Network in question and found that they reported on the fake video in question and properly warned their viewers.
Oh, I said to myself. What I thought was happening was exactly what was happening, which brings me to the important point I want to make. It means believe in God and trust the church, but don’t believe everything on the internet. When I contacted the people who asked me questions, they were both relieved to know the truth and outraged that so many people on the internet were trying to mislead me. Human nature remains the same.
Pope Leo himself addressed the issue of AI. In his message to the 60-year-old generation:th “AI models are shaped by the worldviews of the people who build them, and as a result they can impose stereotypes and prejudices by reproducing them in the data they use,” Pope Francis said on World Social Communication Day.
With that in mind, the Pope warned, “In recent years, artificial intelligence systems have increasingly taken control of the production of text, music and video. This risks dismantling many of the human creative industries and replacing them with the label ‘AI-assisted’, turning people into passive consumers of thoughtless thoughts and anonymous products, without ownership or affection.”
I encourage all readers to take the time to read this letter. It’s only a few pages, but I’m sure you’ll be impressed. Next, consider practical skills for separating the wheat from the chaff, cleaning out falsehoods on the internet and focusing on the truth, as the Lord Jesus says.
Use good critical thinking. I remember at a conference I once attended where a priest presenting said that when using critical thinking about something that may or may not be true, we need to “apply a healthy dose of skepticism.” This means testing the information. Compare questionable information to known reliable sources. Will dubious information stand up in the face of known truth, or will it wither away?
First, this means slowing down. Don’t jump to conclusions. If the reader reacts too quickly, deceptive language achieves the author’s purpose. So, give me a break. This gives the mind an opportunity to switch from an emotional response to an analytical approach. That act alone can remove a lot of fiction.
First, this means slowing down. Don’t jump to conclusions. If the reader reacts too quickly, deceptive language achieves the author’s purpose. So, give me a break. This gives the mind an opportunity to switch from an emotional response to an analytical approach. That act alone can remove a lot of fiction.
Next, check the source of the story. Using accurate sources was constantly drilled into my head by my college professors and later by my editors when I was a reporter. Is the article you’re reading from a known reliable news source, a true academic institution, or a known Catholic expert?
Third, look for concrete evidence, not just claims. Actual information cites actual data, research, documents, etc. False and misleading information is based on ambiguity (i.e., “The experts say…”) or emotional language rather than factual language. Please read the footnotes.
Fourth, read multiple independent sources. I do this myself. Each news source has its own bias and approach. Check out news from all walks of life, seeking truth and avoiding fiction. For Catholic Church news, check out EWTN, Vatican News Agency, Catholic News Agency and, of course, Catholic Times.
Related | Official Vatican News Media on YouTube
Fifth, much of what is published on Internet news sites is editorial content, where writers express their personal opinions, and such content is often mixed with news articles. Before reading an article, always check whether it is marked as an editorial, opinion, etc.
Sixth, as mentioned above, false content tries to bypass logic and attack the emotional level of the reader. Be careful with emotional language. When I was a newspaper reporter, this was called the FUD factor (Fear, Uncertainty, Doubt). It is a strategy to manipulate and influence perceptions by disseminating negative, misleading, and/or ambiguous information.
Seventh, beware of oversimplified explanations. Real life is complicated. Fake sources often claim to have a unique secret solution or information that they don’t want anyone else to know. We’ve all seen “Brand X” seem to solve your problems in no time. Note that there are similar claims about what is true for a good Catholic. Oversimplification is sometimes called a “characteristic of misinformation.”
Finally, and most importantly, I admire those who turn to clergy for answers when they have questions. Don’t be afraid to ask your parish priest or deacon for advice regarding news, television, and the Internet. If we don’t know the answer right away, we’ll check and get back to you.
I’ve often compared the current state of the Internet, especially to the old Wild West. I think it’s an “anything goes” mode, with both heroes and villains. But with caution, common sense, critical thinking, and the help of decent people, we can all safely travel this land and take advantage of its good to serve the Lord and his people.
