Paco A. Pangalangan works at the intersection of institutional trust, public discourse, and digital strategy. A communication strategist and policy advocate, his work explores how misinformation spreads in times of crisis and how institutions, whether humanitarian, civic, or public health, can respond in ways that restore credibility without reinforcing division.
He has worked with international organizations including the World Health Organization, the International Committee of the Red Cross, and International Media Support, helping to build systems that monitor public narratives, anticipate disinformation risks, and develop evidence-based, context-aware responses. He also works to strengthen the capacity of institutions and communities to better understand and navigate today’s complex information environment. His focus isn’t just on what people believe, but why they believe it, and how trust can be rebuilt without compromising on truth.
He previously served as Executive Director at Stratbase, a Manila-based policy think tank, where he led efforts to connect research with public policy discourse, working across government, civil society, and the private sector to shape how narratives influence public opinion and institutional decision-making in an evolving digital landscape.
Paco holds graduate degrees from Leiden University and the University of the Philippines, and was a fellow at the Center for an Informed Public at the University of Washington.
Project: Eroding the Middle Ground: Surveillance Capitalism’s Impact on Humanitarian and Electoral Contexts explores how algorithm-driven engagement and disinformation campaigns undermine the credibility of institutions that depend on perceived neutrality in high-stakes environments. From humanitarian crises to elections, trusted actors such as humanitarian organizations or election observers are increasingly reframed by viral narratives as biased, political, or complicit. This research aligns with the Carr Center’s mission to examine the ethical implications of technological systems and uphold human rights in the digital age. It builds on Shoshana Zuboff’s critique of surveillance capitalism, extending her analysis to explore how the commodification of attention and behavior shapes public opinion and erodes institutional trust. It also draws from Mathias Risse’s work on epistemic rights to investigate how algorithm-driven information ecosystems distort access to reliable knowledge and weaken the foundations of informed civic participation. Grounded in field experience and stakeholder perspectives, the project aims to surface practical strategies for strengthening institutional resilience, rebuilding public confidence, and mitigating the harms of digital manipulation. In doing so, it hopes to contribute to the Carr Center’s broader goal of exploring how technological change is reshaping human life and influencing the protection of human rights.