Age old problem? How to be an open society, without being open to manipulation.

I tend to think only education. But the 'right' actively fights that too. Typically on 'religious' grounds, to keep people ignorant.

So, even the solution is demonized.

But if you try to do something, you are called a fascist for curtailing 'free-speech'.

Edit:

What about counter marketing. In "Seveneves", the government had people that manipulated narratives, for pro-democracy. So it was manipulation, but to do-the-right-thing, which was fighting the other government that was a secretive dictatorship like USSR/North Korea type.

Often wondered if that would work at all, but it would have to be secret or if ever found out it would be pilloried for being 'manipulative'.

So, how can a 'free' side ever fight 'non-free' sides without becoming the enemy and using the tactics of the 'non-free' side .