Comelec chief eyes banning 'AI deepfake' as campaign materials
By Dhel Nazario
Commission on Elections (Comelec) Chairman George Erwin Garcia is eyeing to prohibit the use of "AI deepfakes" as election campaign materials.
"Kukumbinsihin ko po ang ating Commission En Banc na ipagbawal namin sa campaign ang paggamit ng deepfakes at AI (Artificial Intelligence) sapagkat madami ang nalilito, misrepresentation, madaming hindi makatotohanan na nangyayari kapag ginagamit po yan (I will convince the Commission En Banc for us to prohibit in campaign the use of deepfakes and AI because a lot are confused, there's misrepresentation, there a lot of unreal things that are bound to happen when these are used)," he said.
"Dapat po kapag kampanya, ikaw mismo ang nakikita ng sambayanan (During campaigns the people should see the actual person),"he added.
In a letter dated May 28 to the Comelec En Banc, Garcia stressed the growing concern among election management experts in various jurisdictions regarding the threat of AI technology and deepfake to "sow deceit misinformation between and among voters and candidates for elections."
He cited as an example President Marcos, among several heads of states who has been a victim of AI deepfake videos to deceive viewers.
Garcia added that the abuse of AI technology and "deepfake" videos undermine the integrity of elections and the credibility of public officials, candidates, and election management authorities.
"The abuse of this technology in campaign materials such as videos, audios, or other media forms may amount to fraudulent misrepresentation of candidates. This defeats the very purpose of a campaign, which is to fully and truthfully inform the voting public about the elections and the candidates," he said in the letter.
"For the reason stated above, undersigned respectfully requests that the use of AI deepfake in campaign materials be prohibited," he stated.