Election watchdogs welcome partnership between Comelec, TikTok

Election watchdogs on Tuesday welcomed the partnership between the Commission on Elections (Comelec) and the video-sharing platform TikTok for the national and local elections.

Comelec and TikTok formalized their partnership through a memorandum of understanding signing ceremony in Makati on Tuesday, reinforcing their shared goal of providing credible election information to Filipinos.

National Citizens' Movement for Free Elections (NAMFREL) national chairperson Angel Averia Jr. lauded TikTok's initiative to provide a platform for reliable election information.

"This partnership is a valuable tool for promoting transparency and educating Filipinos on their electoral rights and responsibilities," Averia said.

"By working together, we can combat misinformation and ensure a fair electoral process," he added.

Meanwhile, Legal Network for Truthful Elections Executive (LENTE) director Atty. Ona Caritos stressed the importance of the partnership amid the proliferation of fake news.

"As misinformation and disinformation continue to challenge elections, we are excited to build on our collaboration with TikTok," Caritos said.

"We are hopeful that this continued collaboration will continue promoting election integrity ahead of the 2025 national, local, and first BARMM Parliamentary elections through digital literacy and ensuring a space for Filipinos to have access to credible and verified information," he added.

Comelec and TikTok launched the in-app Philippine Elections Center site in collaboration with NAMFREL and LENTE to provide Filipinos with reliable and trustworthy information about voting.

In addition to the Elections Center, TikTok is also launching the #ThinkTwice Digital Literacy Campaign which encourages users to think critically about the content they create and share.

This initiative, composed of social videos, creator collaborations, and an in-app page, further underscored TikTok's commitment to fostering a responsible environment where users are empowered to report misinformation and contribute to the integrity of digital discourse.