I’ve been contacted a few times by some people who were upset by videos on the internet, in particular they were disturbed by alleged sweeping changes our Holy Father Pope Leo XIV was making to the Church’s worship. They even said that these were reported on a major Catholic TV network.
I, of course, had no idea what they were talking about. So, I did two things. I asked them if they had seen this on mainstream news media. They told me no. One thing I was certain of was that if such sweeping changes were imminent, diocesan staff would have heard about it already, and mainstream news channels would have seized on those stories, and our Communications Office would have been contacted for comment. That had not happened.
I encouraged those who had contacted me to be careful about the internet. I told them I was confident what they saw was not true. I also assured them that the Vatican would have sent us information and direction about implementation if changes were being made.
I also promised them I would look into it. I checked online and quickly found the videos in question. I watched them and immediately concluded they were fictitious and generated by people using artificial intelligence (AI). Both videos had that animation-like look and semi-robotic sound and tone I associate with AI videos. Both videos were also loaded with glaring factual errors, such as the reference to our current Holy Father as “Pope Leo I-dash-15” instead of Pope Leo XIV (properly pronounced “fourteenth” of course).
I also checked the Catholic TV network in question and discovered they were reporting on the phony videos in questions and very properly warning their audience.
Aha!, I said to myself. What I thought was occurring was exactly what was occurring, which brings me to the main point I want to make: believe in God and trust the Church but don’t believe everything on the internet. When I got back to the people who brought their questions to me, they were relieved to know the truth and also outraged that so many people on the internet try to be misleading. Human nature remains what it is.
Pope Leo himself has addressed the subject of AI. In his message for the 60th World Day of Social Communications, His Holiness said, “AI models are shaped by the worldview of those who build them and can, in turn, impose these ways of thinking by reproducing the stereotypes and prejudices present in the data they draw on.”
With that in mind, the Holy Father offered this warning: “In recent years, artificial intelligence systems have increasingly taken control of the production of texts, music, and videos. This puts much of the human creative industry at risk of being dismantled and replaced with the label ‘Powered by AI,’ turning people into passive consumers of unthought thoughts and anonymous products without ownership or love.”
I encourage my readers to take time and read this letter. It is only a couple pages, and you will find it inspiring. Next, let’s consider some practical skills to flush out the false and hone in on truth on the internet, to separate the wheat from the chaff, as our Lord Jesus says.
Use good critical thinking. I recall a conference I once attended and the priest who was making the presentation telling us that when we use our critical thinking about something that may or may not be true, we must “apply a healthy dose of skepticism.” This means testing the information. Compare the questionable information to known, reliable sources. Does the questionable information stand up in the face of known truth, or does it wilt and fall away?
First, this means slowing down. Do not jump to hasty conclusions. Deceptive wording achieves the author’s goal when readers react too quickly. So, pause a moment. This gives your mind a chance to switch from an emotional reaction to an analytical approach. That act alone can filter out a lot of fiction.
First, this means slowing down. Do not jump to hasty conclusions. Deceptive wording achieves the author’s goal when readers react too quickly. So, pause a moment. This gives your mind a chance to switch from an emotional reaction to an analytical approach. That act alone can filter out a lot of fiction.
Second, check the story’s sources. Using accurate sources was drilled into my head constantly by my college professors and later on my editors when I was a reporter. Does the story you are reading come from known and reputable news sources, true academic institutions, or known Catholic experts?
Third, look for concrete evidence, not just assertions. Real information will cite real data, studies, documents, and so forth. False and misleading information is based on vague phrases (i.e. “experts say…”) and emotional instead of factual language. Read those footnotes!
Fourth, read multiple and independent sources of information. I do this myself. Each news source has their biases and approaches. Check the news across the spectrum as you seek truth and avoid fiction. Regarding Catholic Church news, check high quality sources like EWTN, the Vatican News Service, Catholic News Service, and of course, The Catholic Times.
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Fifth, a lot of what is published on internet news sites is editorial content – writers expressing their personal opinions – and such content is often intermixed with news stories. Be sure to check before reading an article to see if it is marked as editorial, opinion, and so forth.
Sixth, as I mentioned before, false content seeks to get around logic and hit readers on an emotional level. Watch carefully for emotional verbiage. When I was a newspaper reporter, this was nicknamed the FUD factor (fear, uncertainty, and doubt), which is strategies to manipulate and influence perceptions by disseminating negative, misleading, and/or ambiguous information.
Seventh, be careful about explanations that are too simple. Real life is complicated. False sources often claim to have the one and only secret solution or information that others do not want you to know about. We’ve all seen things like “Brand X” will clear up what ails you in no time at all. Watch out for similar claims about what is true for good Catholics. Oversimplification has often been called the “hallmark of misinformation.”
Lastly, and most importantly, I commend those who turn to their clergy for answers when they are in doubt. Do not hesitate to ask the priests or deacons at your parish for guidance about the news, television, and internet. If we do not know the answer right away, we’ll check and get back to you.
I have frequently compared the current state of the internet, in particular, to the old wild west. It’s filled with both heroes and villains, and I see an “anything goes” mode to it. But, with caution, common sense, critical thinking, and help from decent people, all of us can travel through it safely and utilize what is good about it to serve the Lord and its people.