The Commission on Elections (Comelec) and video-hosting app TikTok inked a memorandum of agreement (MOA) on Tuesday to combat fake news ahead of the national and local elections.

Comelec Chairperson George Garcia cited a survey result revealing that TikTok is among the social media platforms being utilized by politicians and candidates.

"That's why nung pumunta ang lahat ng officials nila, natuwa ako because may ino-offer sila na mga paraan to counter the misinformation and disinformation (That's why when all of their officials visited us, I was elated because they offered ways to counter misinformation and disinformation)," Garcia said.

The Comelec chief said he hopes that in the next few days, they will be able to lay down properly the necessary plan of action and guidelines against fake news.

"Sa ating mga kababayan, expect po natin ang mas magiting na kampanya natin sa disinformation (I just want our fellow Filipinos to know that they should expect that we will strengthen our fight against disinformation)," Garcia continued.

He added that the Comelec's partnership with TikTok "is a breath of life.

"The fight now is not in the regular campaign, it will be in the social media campaign. That's why this partnership between Comelec and TikTok is a very welcome development as far as our campaign [against] disinformation or fake news is concerned."

Safeguarding election integrity

During the MOA, Comelec and TikTok also launched the in-app Philippine Elections Center site in collaboration with the National Citizens' Movement for Free Elections (NAMFREL) and the Legal Network for Truthful Elections (LENTE).

The initiative aims to provide Filipinos with reliable and trustworthy information about voting as it ensures users have nough resources to make informed decisions for the upcoming elections.

Peachy Padema, public policy manager of TikTok Philippines recognized the importance of community conversation during the elections.

"During these civic processes, we remain focused on keeping people safe and protecting the integrity of the TikTok platform," Paderna said.

"We do this by enforcing a set of policies aimed at preventing the spread of misinformation, launching an election center, prohibiting political ads, elevating authoritative information from trusted sources, and collaborating with experts who help us evaluate and improve our approach," she added.

Paderna explained that TikTok's Philippine Elections Center is a feature that directs users to verified election-related content through in-app search prompts, providing direct access to critical resources.

It houses centralized, reliable information about voting procedures, polling locations, key election dates, and other essential information for voters from Comelec, NAMFREL, and LENTE.

Moreover, the leading video-sharing platform also removes harmful misinformation about civic and electoral processes, works with fact-checking partners to assess the accuracy of content, and labels claims that cannot be verified.

TikTok also does not allow political ads and prohibits accounts belonging to politicians, governments, or political parties from monetizing content.

Users are encouraged to report misleading information through TikTok's in-app reporting tool, which enables swift action against content that violates the platform's policies.

"With the help of our partners at Comelec, NAMFREL, and LENTE, we aim to contribute to the integrity of the election process while promoting digital literacy and responsible participation online," Paderna added.