Comelec to regulate use of AI in 2025 polls campaign

Comelec chairperson George Erwin Garcia (File Photo: Yancy Lim via Philippine News Agency/Facebook)

By Ferdinand Patinio, Philippine News Agency

MANILA – The Commission on Elections (Comelec) is set to come out with guidelines for the use of artificial intelligence (AI) to promote the candidates in the May 2025 National and Local Elections (NLE), a poll body official said on Thursday.

Comelec chairperson George Garcia made this remark as the poll body officials led a forum with the stakeholders on AI to gather information and inputs on the use of the new technology during the election campaign.

“Gusto namin malaman hindi naman kabuuan ng AI ang masama, marami din parte ng AI na napakaganda po. When you enhanced yourself sa picture AI yun. Ang AI nakakatulong para makakalap information, napadalang naman na nagamit sya sa kasamaan (We want to know that not all AI is bad, many parts of AI are very good. When you enhanced yourself in the picture, that’s AI. AI helps gather information but it is used for evil),” he said on the sidelines of the forum at the University of the Philippines, Diliman, Quezon City.

“Yan nga po ang gusto nating alamin ano yung parte ng AI na ginagamit sa halalan na dapat na iregulate, na dapat iprohibit kung meron man at kung maprohibit, mareregulate may nabaviolate ba tayong batas or karapatan. So yan po iweigh in natin (That’s what we want to know, what part of AI is used in elections that should be regulated, banned if there is any and if it is banned, will it be regulated, are we violating any laws or rights. So, let’s weigh in on that),” he added.

He said the main purpose of the forum is to be proactive in the use of new technology.

Garcia said the Comelec is hoping to release the guidelines on the second week of August.

Social media influencers

He said the poll body will also monitor the participation of social media influencers during the election campaign.

Garcia said they would also like to regulate the dealings of online influencers especially in helping those running for public positions and political parties.

“What shall we do with social media influencers, the content creators hired by candidates? That is where we want to establish some form of regulation by the Commission,” he added.

The poll body chief also said they will also monitor the expenses of social media influencers who will be hired by candidates.

He said they will be partnering with the Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) in checking their income.

“During the campaign, these social media influencers get paid a huge sum but are not subjected to taxes. These influencers must be taxed,” Garcia added.

He said such is similar to personalities who appear in commercials and guest appearances for candidates.

“Once you hire a celebrity or a known singer or a popular personality during the campaigns, the payment must be reported to us,” he said.

Citizens arm

Meanwhile, the Parish Pastoral Council for Responsible Voting (PPCRV) and the National Movement for Free Elections (NAMFREL) have been accredited citizens’ arms of the Comelec for the 2025 elections.

In a resolution, the Comelec en banc granted a “continuing accreditation” to PPCRV and NAMFREL to serve as the poll body’s citizens arms in all electoral exercises, including those held at the national level.

“The Commission, after due deliberation, resolves to approve the continuing accreditation of the Parish Pastoral Council for Responsible Voting and National Movement for Free Elections as citizens’ arms in any and all elections, plebiscites, recalls, and referenda to be conducted by the Commission on Elections,” it said.

At the same time, the Commission has required the two poll watchdogs to submit some requirements which include a complete list of officers, respective provincial, municipal, and city coordinators or their equivalent.

They are also ordered to submit comprehensive or detailed plans of action and activities leading to the 2025 national and local polls and thereafter and to report their accomplishments and recommendations after each electoral exercise.

“Non-compliance shall result to the revocation of said continuing accreditation,” the Comelec warned.

Last month, Garcia has recommended for continuing accreditation of the two groups citing the “innumerable elections and democratic processes” conducted by the Comelec in the past with the two organizations being “reliable sources” of observations and recommendations in the effective exercise of the right to suffrage