COMELEC issues guidelines on social media and AI use for digital election campaigns

The Commission on Elections (COMELEC) released guidelines for digital election campaigning for the 2025 national and local elections.

Resolution No. 11064, issued by the COMELEC en banc, includes guidelines on the use of social media, artificial intelligence (AI), and internet technology for digital campaigns and the prohibition and punishment of its misuse for disinformation and misinformation for the May 2025 midterm elections and the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) parliamentary elections.

The resolution authorized the Task Force sa Katotohanan, Katapatan, at Katarungan sa Halalan (KKK sa Halalan), led by the Education and Information Department (EID) and the Law Department of the COMELEC, and other relevant government instrumentalities to implement and enforce the guidelines.

Guidelines on social media use

Unlike the prior elections, where there are no regulations on digital campaigning, the 2025 polls will require the submission and registration of social media accounts, websites, and digital and internet-based campaign platforms, including podcasts, blogs, and vlogs, within 30 days after the filing of certificates of candidacy (COC) until December 13, 2024.

The following must be submitted for social media registration:

• A duly notarized accomplished registration form which will be accomplished and submitted online.
• A notarized authorization if the registration is through an authorized representative of the candidate or party.
• A notarized affidavit of undertaking by the candidate or the authorized official of the political party or, coalition, or party-list organization.
• Photocopy of one (1) valid government-issued ID of the candidate, the authorized representative of the political party or coalition, or party-list organization submitting the registration. 

If the concerned candidate, political party or coalition, party-list organization, and their campaign managers fail to register with the EID, an explanation of why a complaint for violation of the guidelines should not be filed against them will be required. The said candidates will also be requested to remove, take down, or block the contents.

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Guidelines on artificial intelligence (AI) technology

Since artificial intelligence has the potential to create havoc during the campaign period, the resolution requires all election propaganda and campaign materials of candidates and political parties utilizing AI to be disclosed.

Depending on the type of media, they will have a different set of requirements to ensure that the media contains the necessary disclosures and disclaimers:

For Visual Media

• Text of the disclosure or disclaimer must appear in a font size no smaller than the largest font used.
• If no text is present, the disclaimer must be large enough to be easily readable.
• The disclaimer must be clearly distinguished from other content with sufficient color contrast between the text and background.
• The disclaimer must be enclosed in a printed box or set apart that visually distinguishes it from other content.

For Audio-Visual Media (Video or Animated Content)

• The disclosure or disclaimer must be present both in written form and as an audible statement.
• The written form must be visible.
• The audible form must be clearly spoken for a considerable amount of time at the beginning and end of the media.

For Audio-Only Media

• The disclosure or disclaimer must be spoken clearly and audibly.
• The volume must be easily heard by the average listener at the beginning and the end of the audio content.

Failure to disclose the use of AI technology will require the candidates to explain why a complaint for violation of the guidelines should not be filed against them. The content will then be requested to be removed, taken down, or blocked.

Prohibited misuse of social media, AI, and internet technology in digital election campaigns

The COMELEC also listed the prohibited acts during the 2025 polls, including the following:

1. The use of “false amplifiers,” such as fake accounts, bots, and astroturf groups filled with fake users, to propagate disinformation and misinformation in endorsing or campaigning.
2. Coordinated inauthentic behavior and utilization of hyperactive users.
3. Creation and dissemination of deepfakes, cheapfakes, and soft fakes.
4. Use of fake and unregistered social media accounts during the election and campaign period.
5. Creation and dissemination of fake news.
6. Use of content produced through AI technology but without compliance with the transparency and disclosure requirements.

The 2025 Polls will be a testing ground for implementing the guidelines on the proper use and utilization of social media, artificial intelligence (AI) technology, and internet technology in digital election campaigns.