Comelec amends rule on socmed account registration

MANILA, Philippines — There will be no need for private individuals to register their webpages or online platforms that they intend to use to campaign for or against candidates in the May 2025 polls, the Commission on Elections (Comelec) said yesterday.

In Resolution No. 11064-A, the Comelec removed provisions in an earlier resolution that initially made it mandatory even for private individuals to register their social media accounts, webpages, podcasts, vlogs, blogs and other similar platforms that shall be used to solicit votes or promote the election or defeat of a particular candidate or candidates.

The poll body said it made the amendment to protect the right to freedom of expression.

Under the amended resolution, “only the candidates and their authorized representatives, as well as authorized representatives of registered political parties/coalitions and party-list organizations” would be required to submit their registration forms for their official social media accounts and pages, websites, podcasts, blogs/vlogs and other online and internet-based campaign platforms.

“Whereas, after conducting consultations and meetings with concerned stakeholders, the issue of safeguarding the freedom of expression of private individuals was duly raised and deliberated upon,” the Comelec said in its amended resolution issued on Nov. 13 but released only yesterday.

“The freedom of expression is a fundamental right enshrined in the Constitution, serving as a cornerstone of a democratic society by ensuring open dialogue, the free exchange of ideas and the protection of individual opinions, allowing Filipinos to speak freely on various issues, including politics, governance, social issues and the elections,” the resolution read.

In its amended resolution, the Comelec also stated that only “candidate or the authorized official of the political party or coalition and party-list organizations and their official digital or social media campaign manager” are required to submit a notarized affidavit of undertaking that they shall not misuse social media, artificial intelligence and internet technology for disinformation or misinformation.