MANILA, Philippines — Commission on Elections (Comelec) Chairman George Garcia sought a social media regulation law for campaigns.
"I will admit, up to now, that (campaigning on social media) is the gray area for the [Comelec]," he said in Filipino and English at the Kapihan sa Manila Hotel.
"That is what we are pursuing in Congress. Maybe we can have a Social Media Regulation Act only for purposes of the campaign," he said at a further point in the forum.
Republic Act 9006 or the Fair Elections Act has a provision for candidates to have equal access to media time and space, imposing certain limits when it comes to advertisements.
Garcia said publishers, radio stations, and TV stations submit the contracts and receipts to the Comelec.
He, however, said that "if you have 10 social media accounts, Comelec cannot regulate those so long as you report to us that you have a social media account."
He also mentioned the dilemma that the Comelec could face in case a social media account is fake, or only made to appear it is a candidate's, and not registered with it. "Who will we sue?" Garcia said, adding there would be a territoriality issue if that account is made abroad.
Also, the Comelec has no regulatory power on advertising contract submission when it comes to social media.
For the last elections, the Comelec required a report if a popular social media influencer was involved.
