The Commission on Elections (COMELEC) and TikTok Philippines have teamed up to fight disinformation ahead of the 2025 Midterm Elections. A Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) was signed on January 27 to ensure clean and honest elections by promoting accurate information on social media.
COMELEC Chairman George Erwin Garcia emphasized the importance of this collaboration, stating that the partnership aims to counter fake news and educate voters using TikTok’s massive platform.
TikTok announced that it will ban political ads on the app and launch an Election Center to provide verified election-related content. The platform also unveiled its #ThinkTwice campaign, which seeks to promote responsible social media use and counter the spread of misinformation.
The MOU outlines strategies for strengthening voter education and preventing the spread of fake news before and during the elections. TikTok’s commitment to banning political ads marks a bold step, as the platform continues to navigate its role in safeguarding democracy.
However, some critics argue that the partnership may raise questions about TikTok’s impartiality and capacity to handle election-related controversies effectively. Concerns about the platform’s transparency and its global data privacy issues add a layer of controversy to the initiative.
With over 40 million active TikTok users in the Philippines, the partnership could play a pivotal role in shaping voter behavior and ensuring factual information reaches the public.
