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Comelec defends social media regulation for 2025 elections

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THUMBNAIL

Andrea Taguines

ABS-CBN News

The Commission on Elections (Comelec) on Saturday defended its decision to regulate the social media accounts of candidates gunning for posts in the 2025 polls, amid allegations that it is unconstitutional.Under Comelec guidelines, individual aspirants, party-list groups, political parties, and even their campaign staff are required to register their social media accounts with the poll body’s Education and Information Department.Speaking at a news forum in Quezon City, Comelec Chairman George Garcia said the legal basis for the move is the Fair Elections Act.His statement comes following claims that it violates candidates’ freedom of expression.<div><a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/2024/10/9/comelec-reports-record-number-of-senate-aspirants-for-2025-polls-1459">Comelec reports &#x27;record&#x27; number of Senate aspirants for 2025 polls</a></div>“Nakagalay doon, the Comelec has the power to regulate radio, television, newspapers, and other forms of media. And we decided to interpret that as to include social media,” said Garcia.He welcomed any possible challenge before the Supreme Court.“The only way to prove whether the Comelec is right or wrong is to go to the Supreme Court and let the Supreme Court decide,” he added.Garcia noted that this will help the Comelec monitor the online spending of candidates.“24 hours na andyan yung post mo. Pwede mong tirahin yung isang kandidato o i-promote mo. Yung mga social media influencers na nababayaran ng pagkamahal-mahal… Pero walang regulation. E paano yung ginagastos doon? E hindi ba lahat ng gastos ngayon kahit sa TV, radyo, dyaryo, kailangan i-report sa amin?” said Garcia.<div><a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/2024/10/11/comelec-source-code-review-1612">LOOK: Comelec holds source code review for stakeholders</a></div>According to Garcia, the rule is especially important as a way to combat the spread of fake news, which has been exacerbated by artificial intelligence, during the campaign season.“Problema rin ang deep fakes. Itsura mo, mukha mo, boses mo… biglang nag-endrose para sa eleksyon. Boto niyo si ganyan. Naniwala ang lahat ng kanyang supporters at tagapakinig na talagang endorsement niya, yun pala hindi siya. Yun pala, AI-generated,” he warned.The commission also requires candidates and parties to disclose any use of artificial intelligence technology in their campaign ads and materials.But how exactly will the Comelec monitor this, on top of everything they have to prepare for and do during the elections?Garcia said the poll body will coordinate with social media platforms such as Facebook, Google, and X.“Kung tatalima at makikipag-ugnayan sa amin ang mga platform, madali po naming mare-regulate,” he said.

The Commission on Elections (Comelec) on Saturday defended its decision to regulate the social media accounts of candidates gunning for posts in the 2025 polls amid allegations that it is unconstitutional.

The Commission on Elections (Comelec) on Saturday defended its decision to regulate the social media accounts of candidates gunning for posts in the 2025 polls amid allegations that it is unconstitutional.