Comelec banking on public reporting vs deepfakes

MANILA, Philippines — Despite the lack of manpower, the Commission on Elections (Comelec) expects its campaign against the use of artificial intelligence (AI) and deepfakes in next year’s polls to succeed with public support.

Comelec Chairman George Garcia said he expects the public to report candidates who will engage in the illegal use of deepfakes and AI during the campaign.

“Citizens will be the ones to pressure platforms into taking down posts, and hopefully they will coordinate with us about it,” Garcia said.

The Comelec chief said the commission will also enter into a memorandum of agreement with different platforms for the intensified efforts against AI and deepfakes.

According to Garcia, to succeed, the commission needs the support of all sectors, including government agencies, in the effort to regulate the use of AI and social media.

He said the prohibition against the use of AI and deepfakes should cover all nationwide candidates.

The Comelec, Garcia said, will come out with the proper guidelines governing the use of AI and social media.

“What we will propose to the Commission en banc is to include this with other election offences, and number two in disqualification,” he said.

However, Garcia said the Comelec is not inclined to impose an absolute ban on the use of AI and social media during the campaign.

“We are unable to stop people from using AI and social media. What’s better is that we regulate or prohibit one aspect of a campaign on social media. We cannot ban social media because, for me, it might intrude with what we call freedom of expression,” he said.

Garcia said the poll body can act motu proprio against deepfakes, but they would also encourage public reporting.