High-tech threats to polls tackled

MANILA, Philippines —  Ranking officials of the Commission on Elections (Comelec), Philippine National Police (PNP), National Citizens’  Movement for Free Elections and leading digital experts from India, Singapore, the United States and the Philippines convened at the National Election Game Changer Summit on Nov. 25 to 27 to address the rising threats of artificial intelligence (AI), deepfakes and misinformation in the 2025 elections.

Organized by research and intelligence firm Capstone Intel Corp., the summit served as a venue to discuss strategies for protecting Filipino voters and political candidates from the improper use of emerging digital technologies.

Comelec Commissioner Nelson Celis unveiled new rules on regulating AI in campaign activities, emphasizing the role of technology in maintaining electoral integrity, while Commissioner Rey Bulay discussed the rapidly evolving election landscape, highlighting how digital tools are transforming voter outreach and engagement.

Capstone-Intel Communications Director Ella Kristina Coronel and communication specialist Estrella Torres also highlighted the crucial role of strategic communication and distribution during the election.

Cybersecurity specialists from the United States, Singapore and the Philippines also shared best practices for mitigating cyber threats that could compromise election integrity.

The PNP Anti-Cybercrime Department focused on legal measures while collaborating with the Comelec and other agencies to safeguard election technologies, such as vote-counting machines from hacking and cyberattacks.

Capstone Intel chief data scientist Guido David highlighted the dual-edged nature of AI in elections.