NAMFREL, UA&P pushing code of conduct for AI use in Eleksyon 2025

Election watchdog National Citizens' Movement for Free Elections (NAMFREL) and the University of Asia and the Pacific (UA&P) held a roundtable discussion fora code of conduct (COC) for the use of artificial intelligence (AI) in Eleksyon 2025.

According to Sandra Aguinaldo's report on “24 Oras,” the groups are hoping the code would serve as a guide for all stakeholders for the holding of “ethical” elections next year. 

"We’ve seen the works of troll armies in the last election cycle. A lot of fake news went around social media,” said Namfrel national chairperson Lito Averia.

“It’s going to be cheaper now to run a campaign using AI and they will replace the troll armies,” he added. 

The misuse of AI is feared to cause the proliferation of deep fakes that mimic the voices and likeness of personalities for false propaganda.

“We are not pursuing active regulation but rather self-regulation by the stakeholders,” Averia said. 

The COC would be forwarded to thNe Commission on Elections (Comelec), the election watchdog added. 

Comelec Chairperson George Erwin Garcia said the poll body is open to discussing the COC for the use of AI. He also said they would conduct a forum on the issue and would invite Namfrel. 

"Wala po tayong batas na nagre-regulate ang social media sa Pilipinas. Kaya ang tanong, kung ganun, pwede ba, kaya ba, paano ba ire-regulate ng COMELEC? 'Yung mga 'yan, lalo pa kung ito'y padadaanin sa social media,” Garcia said. 

(We have no laws regulating social media in the Philippines. The question is, how can the Comelec regulate, especially if it would proliferate on social media.) —Sundy Locus/NB, GMA Integrated News