In May, Commission on Elections Chair George Garcia proposed a ban on artificial intelligence (AI) for the next campaign season, warning its abuse could worsen the spread of fake news and “undermine the integrity of elections and the credibility of public officials, candidates, and election management authorities.”
The proposal was referred by the COMELEC en banc to the concerned committees, while big tech companies, including Meta, Google, Snapchat, Tiktok, and Microsoft, have been discussing with the poll body how to combat fake news during the campaign period.
However, with regards to AI, the National Citizens’ Movement for Free Elections (NAMFREL) has objected to the proposal to ban it as a campaign tool, pushing instead for a “code of conduct” or set of ethical principles for election stakeholders to follow.
NAMFREL said banning or even just regulating the use of AI may infringe on freedom of speech and expression, and the COMELEC may face legal challenges in enforcing such a restriction.
It recommends a code of conduct based on the principles of transparency, respect for human rights, accountability, truthfulness, and nondiscrimination.
In the case of political ads or similar materials employing AI, such content should just be appropriately marked, it said. It proposed that candidates and political parties be required to disclose their intention to use AI in their campaigns, as well as their willingness to be audited for any AI-generated content.
A committee or task force within COMELEC may be formed to monitor AI use – or if the technology is being used for disinformation or producing deepfake videos or audios, it added. A reporting and complaint process for AI-generated election paraphernalia can also encourage self regulation.
Artificial Intelligence is here to stay and simple solutions like an outright ban might not be the way to face something as complicated as it. Whether the COMELEC likes it or not, next year’s elections will be a test bed for AI, and those that can harness it best, whether in a morally upright way or not, will have an advantage over those who don’t. Instead of pretending it doesn’t exist or repressing it with a ban, the poll body should strongly consider being an active part of the revolution, so it doesn’t get left behind and has to play catch up only after the impacts have changed the campaign dynamics.*
