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Manila Bulletin devider Opinion devider Comelec takes action against AI threats to 2025 elections

Comelec takes action against AI threats to 2025 elections

Published May 30, 2024 04:46 pm

FROM BEEPERS TO BYTES

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The Commission on Elections (Comelec) is gearing up to tackle fast-moving threats to the 2025 elections as advancements in artificial intelligence (AI) and other technologies have made interference and meddling easier than ever before. To address these concerns, Commission on Elections (Comelec) Chair George Erwin Garcia proposed banning AI and deepfake technology in campaign materials for the upcoming elections.


Garcia wrote to the seven-member Comelec en banc, which he is a part of, requesting that it craft guidelines to prohibit “deepfake” and AI-generated content in campaign materials.
In the letter, Garcia highlighted the potential dangers of AI and deepfake technology in spreading deceit and misinformation among voters and candidates during the campaign period. “The abuse of such technology in campaign materials, including videos, audios, or other media forms, may amount to fraudulent misrepresentation of candidates,” Garcia stated. “This defeats the purpose of a campaign, which is to fully and truthfully inform the voting public about the elections and the candidates.”


Garcia's proposal underscores the urgency of implementing measures to prevent the misuse of AI-generated content and manipulated recordings, which could significantly impact the integrity of the electoral process. The Comelec’s move aims to ensure a fair and transparent election, free from the distortions of advanced technological manipulations.
The letter also detailed concerns about how AI and deepfake technology could create convincing yet false representations of candidates that could sway public opinion based on fabricated information. These technologies have the capability to produce hyper-realistic fake videos and audio recordings that are difficult for the average voter to discern as fake.
In addition to the proposed ban, the Comelec has urged lawmakers to develop measures that would allow for the regulation of candidates’ social media posts during campaign periods. This includes monitoring and controlling the spread of false information and malicious content on various platforms. The commission believes that strict oversight of social media activities is crucial to maintaining the integrity of the electoral process in the digital age.


As a cybersecurity analyst and co-founder of Scam Watch Pilipinas, I commend the Comelec chairman for this forward-thinking initiative. Like all forms of misinformation, deepfakes increase the possibility that people will mistake lies for the truth. However, the bigger problem is that they also create the risk of social media users mistaking the truth for lies.
The Philippines is not alone in this effort. There are also similar measures in other countries. In the United States, for example, there is the “Protect Elections from Deceptive AI Act,” which bans the distribution of materially deceptive AI-generated audio or visual media relating to candidates running for federal office with the intent of influencing an election or soliciting funds. Microsoft endorsed the act, which aims to curb the spread of misleading AI content in political campaigns shortly after it was introduced. In Brazil, the Superior Electoral Court approved a resolution regulating artificial intelligence use during election campaigns. The regulations require transparency when using AI, including naming the specific tool being used. Failure to comply with these rules can result in content removal or access restrictions on the channels where the content was transmitted.


The proposal of Comelec chair George Garcia to ban the use of deepfakes and AI content, along with his call to regulate this technology, comes amid growing global recognition of the impact of AI and deepfake technology on democratic processes. As other countries grapple with similar issues, the Philippines is taking a proactive stance to protect its electoral system from potential technological abuses.


With the 2025 elections approaching, the Comelec is committed to upholding the principles of transparency, fairness, and truthfulness in the electoral process. The commission's efforts to ban AI and deepfake technology in campaign materials and regulate social media activities reflect its dedication to preserving the integrity of the Philippines' democratic institutions.

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