Comelec to regulate social media, AI in 2025 elections

The Commission on Elections (Comelec) will regulate the use of social media and artificial intelligence (AI) for the first time in the 2025 national and local elections.

The new rules aim to curb the spread of misinformation and disinformation, particularly during digital campaigning.

Promulgated in Resolution No. 11064, the guidelines were announced Wednesday as Comelec prepares for both the national and Bangsamoro elections. This move includes the formation of a task force—Katotohanan, Katapatan, at Katarungan (KKK) sa Halalan—led by Comelec’s Education and Information Department (EID) to monitor and implement the new regulations.

Regulation of Social Media

Under the guidelines, all candidates, political parties, and campaign teams are required to register their official social media accounts, websites, blogs, and other internet-based platforms within 30 days of filing their certificates of candidacy (COC), with the deadline set for December 13, 2024.

These registrations will be reviewed by the task force and published on the Comelec’s official website once approved.

“This is the first time the Comelec is working on regulations related to social media,” said Comelec chairperson George Erwin Garcia during a Senate hearing. “We regulate newspapers, radio, and TV, so why shouldn’t social media be regulated?”

Candidates are also mandated to disclose any election-related content produced with AI technology, ensuring transparency.

These disclosures must be prominent and must include detailed explanations of the AI’s role in creating the content.

“We hope these guidelines will withstand legal scrutiny from excellent lawyers. Hopefully, they’ll be given a chance,” Garcia added, emphasizing the historic nature of this regulatory move.

Banning Disinformation Tools

To prevent the spread of fake news and propaganda, the resolution prohibits the use of “false amplifiers,” such as fake accounts, bots, deepfakes, and astroturfing, all aimed at misleading voters or tarnishing the integrity of the election system.

Violations will prompt the issuance of show cause orders, and candidates or political groups could face election offense complaints.

Task Force KKK will work closely with technology providers, the National Telecommunications Commission (NTC), the Cybercrime Investigation and Coordinating Center (CICC), and other agencies to report, take down, or block offending content.

“We hope to penalize those responsible and hold accountable those who misuse social media during the campaign period,” said Garcia.

The guidelines also require candidates to remove or block AI-generated content that violates the new regulations, ensuring accountability throughout the election process.

Ensuring Transparency

The task force will implement strict guidelines for visual, audio, and audiovisual election materials.

Disclaimers for AI-manipulated content must be clear and conspicuous.

In visual media, the font size must match the largest text on the screen, while audio materials must feature disclosures spoken clearly and audibly.

In the fight against fake news, Task Force KKK will have a crucial role in debunking false information related to the Philippine election system and Comelec itself.

The new regulations are designed to preserve the integrity of the electoral process while adapting to the digital age.

As the country approaches the 2025 midterm elections, the public and political actors alike will be watching to see how these new regulations are enforced and whether they can effectively deter the spread of misinformation in the digital space.