Watchdog urges Comelec to junk order setting social media use in campaigns

Comelec chair George Garcia speaking in a news conference at the Comelec BARMM regional office hours before the acceptance of COCs by the poll body. (Photo taken on Nov. 4, 2024 by DXMS RADIO.)

MANILA, Philippines — A poll watchdog on Thursday said the Commission on Elections (Comelec) should scrap its resolution seeking to regulate the use of social media platforms in campaigning.

Danilo Arao, a Kontra Daya convenor and University of the Philippines journalism professor, said it is not enough just to amend the provisions of Comelec Resolution No. 11064.

The resolution provides guidelines on the use of social media, artificial intelligence (AI) and internet technology for the 2025 national and local elections and the parliamentary elections in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao.

“The stand of Kontra Daya is not really to go into amendments but rather to junk the Comelec Resolution altogether because it is fundamentally flawed,” Arao told INQUIRER.net over the phone.

Arao said self-regulation is key when it comes to such matters.

“We are against government regulation, but self-regulation would be acceptable. It should be self-regulation just like in the media because we want to really uphold freedom of expression,” he said.

Arao made such remarks after Comelec chairman George Erwin Garcia made a vow to push before the en banc a move to amend its resolution.

Garcia said he will ask the poll body to repeal the requirement to register the personal accounts of private individuals who will campaign for political candidates on social media.

Garcia promised this action during a dialogue with Alliance of Concerned Teachers President Antonio Tinio on Tuesday, Nov. 5.

The resolution also prohibits and penalizes the misuse of social media, AI and internet technology for disinformation and misinformation in the upcoming polls.

Instead, Arao said the Comelec should further promote voter education and its media literacy campaigns.

“The Comelec should also amplify the voter education program and further enhance it,” Arao said.

“We repeat we are all against disinformation and we are all in favor of responsible use of social media and artificial intelligence, but the trajectory should be in integrating media literacy and voter’s education,” he added.