Solely 31% of bets in 2025 polls register social media accounts

Comelec headquarters in Intramuros, Manila. INQUIRER FILES

MANILA, Philippines — Solely 31 p.c of the 43,033 people who filed their certificates of candidacy for the Might 12 elections registered their social media accounts, in response to the Fee on Elections (Comelec).

A complete of 70 senatorial bets submitted registration types — exceeding the 66 Senate candidates the Comelec permitted.

In line with the ballot physique, it has not obtained any restraining order on any of the 117 different senatorial aspirants who’ve been declared nuisance candidates.

READ: Ballot watchdogs laud Comelec’s replace on social media laws

In the meantime, 237 party-list teams, organizations, and coalitions have additionally despatched their registration. For aspirants vying for native positions, solely 13,416 have registered their social media accounts.

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Comelec Chair George Garcia insisted the ballot physique wouldn’t prolong the deadline.

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“There will probably be no extension. When you don’t need your posts or accounts eliminated then you have to register your social media accounts,” he stated.

In September, the ballot physique issued Decision No. 11064 to manage election campaigning on social media platforms, and using synthetic intelligence (AI) and web expertise for the 2025 nationwide and native elections and the first-ever parliamentary elections within the Bangsamoro Autonomous Area in Muslim Mindanao.

It was additionally meant to cease the unfold of misinformation and disinformation and degree the enjoying discipline in on-line campaigning.

The decision would additionally empower the ballot physique to observe the net campaigning and spending of candidates. Garcia famous that candidates might spend tens of millions to pay on-line influencers, who take pleasure in a big following on completely different social media platforms.

Nonetheless, election watchdogs and different stakeholders criticized the decision for having a very broad scope, which could infringe on the correct to free speech and privateness.

The Comelec finally relaxed its guidelines on non-public personalities and entities, together with so-called “on-line influencers,” who may be used for campaigning in elections.

Underneath Comelec Decision No. 11064-A permitted in November, the ballot physique amended its earlier decision requiring the registration of all official social media accounts and pages, web sites, podcasts, blogs, vlogs, and different on-line and internet-based marketing campaign platforms of the candidates, events, their marketing campaign groups in addition to non-public people or entities, which are endorsing the election or defeat of a candidate in subsequent yr’s elections.

The amended decision additionally eliminated the sanctions for personal people for failure to register their social media accounts, web sites, and digital and internet-based marketing campaign platforms.