The Commission on Elections (Comelec) has partnered with TikTok, the popular social media platform, to curb disinformation and promote credible information dissemination during the upcoming 2025 midterm elections.
The partnership, formalized through a memorandum of understanding (MOU) signed on Tuesday in Taguig City, underscores the critical role of social media in shaping public perception and ensuring informed voter participation.
Under the agreement, Comelec and TikTok will work together to create in-app resources to raise awareness about election-related issues. Comelec will also gain access to TikTok’s safety enforcement tools, allowing the commission to monitor and report content that violates Philippine election laws. The collaboration will focus on flagging the platform’s disinformation, misinformation, and harmful content.
Comelec chairman George Garcia emphasized the partnership’s significance in addressing the challenges posed by disinformation in the digital age.
“The 2025 election is a precursor to the crucial 2028 presidential and vice-presidential elections. If we can weed out undesirable content on social media now using TikTok’s platform, we can set a standard for future elections,” Garcia stated during the briefing.
He added that the partnership represents a proactive step in ensuring a fair and informed electoral process, especially as more Filipinos turn to social media platforms for information.
Safe digital environment
TikTok, one of the fastest-growing social media platforms in the Philippines, plays a significant role in shaping public discourse. Peachy Paderna, TikTok Philippines’ Public Policy Manager, reiterated the platform’s commitment to ensuring users a safe and reliable space.
“Our policy is clear: we ban political advertising on TikTok. Governments, politicians, and political parties are not allowed to monetize content on our platform,” Paderna said. “This is because we believe that such advertising does not contribute to making TikTok a creative and civil space for our users.”
TikTok upholds content integrity by combining machine learning, human reviewers, and community reports. The platform also collaborates with 21 global fact-checking organizations to verify and label unverifiable or misleading content.
The role of social media
Social media platforms like TikTok have emerged as powerful tools for information dissemination, particularly among younger voters. With over 40 million Filipino TikTok users, the platform is poised to influence public opinion and voter awareness.
While social media enables quick and wide-reaching communication, it is also a battleground for disinformation. The spread of fake news, propaganda, and misleading narratives during election cycles has become a pressing issue worldwide. Through partnerships like this, Comelec and TikTok aim to mitigate the risks and foster a well-informed electorate.
The 2025 senatorial elections are expected to be a testing ground for combating digital disinformation. The partnership between Comelec and TikTok seeks to safeguard the integrity of the upcoming elections and set a precedent for the 2028 presidential elections and beyond.
As Chairman Garcia emphasized, “This is not just about today. It’s about laying the groundwork for a future where digital platforms are used responsibly to empower voters and protect democracy.”
With TikTok’s advanced tools and Comelec’s oversight, the partnership aims to provide a model for leveraging social media to promote transparency, accuracy, and accountability in the electoral process.