The Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) has started a crackdown against fake news and organized ‘troll armies’ on social media to safeguard the integrity of the electoral process.
DICT Secretary Henry Aguda earlier announced their collaboration with the Commission on Elections (Comelec) on several key initiatives to enhance the technological infrastructure of the elections.
Aguda said their initiatives include the establishment of Configuration Hubs, “where DICT personnel will assist in managing the hubs during the election process, and the development of online services such as the Precinct Results Finder, Registration Status Verifier, and Election Results Website, to ensure transparency and providing real-time access to election data.”
The DICT Cybersecurity Bureau has also rolled out critical initiatives such as vulnerability assessment and penetration testing (VAPT) to identify and mitigate security risks, and ensure the security for digital infrastructures throughout the election process.
“A key technological advancement in securing the election is the deployment of (Philippine National) Public Key Infrastructure (PNPKI) digital certificates, which will be used by teachers serving as electoral board members,” Aguda explained.
He said these certificates “will ensure the integrity, confidentiality, and authentication of election data.”
Aguda said they also recognize the growing influence of social media platforms in elections, and welcome the stance of technology giants — Tiktok, Google, and Meta — who pledged to ban paid political ads on their platforms.
“We must be proactive, not reactive. The threats are evolving. From fake news to deepfakes and organized troll armies – our election system must be ready to face them head-on,” he stressed.
Google has implemented the ban on election advertisements since the start of the official campaign period. “It is a move that supports the shared goal of a clean, fair, and credible election,” he noted.
Earlier, Aguda convened the Comelec Advisory Council (CAC) in Taguig City as part of its mission to safeguard the integrity of the electoral process ahead of the 2025 polls.
Composed of representatives from government, academe, information and communications technology professional organizations, and non-government electoral reform organizations, the CAC was convened to discuss issues concerning the elections.
Aguda said key topics tackled during the meeting include “updates on the recent Comelec briefing, recommendations for the use of digital and automated election systems, and proposed timeline for submitting inputs to Comelec, among others.” (With PNA)