*Endah Triastuti, Husna Sarirah Husin, Kavitha Balakrishnan

Abstract:

This study examines how Malaysia’s Orang Asli indigenous communities navigate disinformation in the network society, challenging hegemonic, Western-centric digital literacy frameworks that prioritise individual critical thinking and overlook marginalised lived experiences. Drawing on Sherry Ortner’s anthropology of the good and James Scott’s The Weapons of the Weak, it explores agency, resistance, and resilience through collective practices amid vulnerability, oppression, and the digital divide. Employing qualitative methods, including interviews with government officers and community leaders, and four focus group discussions (FGDs) with 24 participants (elderly, youth, teachers, and community members) from June 2023 to February 2024, data were analysed thematically to uncover strategies for information verification and adaptation. Findings reveal the Orang Asli’s reliance on interpersonal networks, family trust, and local leaders to combat misinformation, fostering bonding social capital for internal solidarity and bridging ties for external engagement.

Keywords: Digital literacy, Orang Asli, indigenous, misinformation, fake news, resilience