Comelec ramps up fight vs deepfakes

To ensure a transparent digital election campaign for the May 2025 elections, the Commission on Elections (Comelec) has sought the assistance of the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) against deepfakes.

The Comelec defines deepfakes as digitally manipulated images, videos, or audio files created using artificial intelligence (AI) to fabricate realistic representations of people, events, or statements and falsely make it appear that an action, statement, or event transpired even if it did not occur in reality.

The two agencies signed a memorandum of agreement (MoA) on Friday in Pasay City.

NBI Director Jaime Garcia said the MoA would ensure an honest and peaceful election.

For his part, Comelec Chairperson George Garcia said the agreement is to protect the integrity of the elections and to safeguard democracy.

“For the truth, we really need the help of the NBI,” Garcia said in Filipino.

“Comelec is facing many challenges it must fight, such as in cybersecurity and the issue of cybercrime,” he added.

Under the guidelines on digital election campaigning, outlined in Resolution 11064, as amended by Resolution 11064-A, candidates and parties may be held criminally liable for the use of false amplifiers, use of deepfakes, cheap fakes and soft fakes, use of fake and unregistered social media accounts, use of AI without complying with the transparency and disclosure requirements, and for coordinated inauthentic behavior, when committed for the purpose of endorsing or campaigning against a candidate or party during the election and campaign periods.