To empower voters, YouTube will display information panels above search results when users look up senatorial candidates. These panels will show key details like party affiliation and include links to Google Search for deeper context.
Live news coverage, ‘How to Vote’ playlist
On Election Day (May 12), the YouTube homepage will feature a dedicated shelf showcasing live news coverage from authoritative sources in both English and Filipino.
YouTube will also promote the Commission on Elections’ (Comelec) "How to Vote" playlist, providing step-by-step guides and voter requirements. On Google Search, algorithms are designed to elevate reliable, authoritative content on election-related topics.
"Supporting the elections is important to Google and YouTube,” said Yves Gonzalez, head of public policy and government relations at Google Philippines. “We are committed to robust collaboration with the government, industry, media, and civil society to help ensure access to authoritative information and safeguard our platforms.”
Safeguards vs. misinformation
To protect against election-related misinformation, YouTube’s Community Guidelines prohibit content that misleads voters or encourages interference in the democratic process. Videos inciting violence or promoting harmful conspiracy theories are quickly removed. Between October and December 2024, YouTube took down over 153,000 videos from the Philippines for policy violations.
AI-generated content
In response to the growing prevalence of AI-generated content, YouTube now requires disclosure labels on altered or synthetic videos, especially for election-related material. These labels will be visible both in the video description and, in many cases, directly on the video player. Google also supports digital watermarking through SynthID and contributes to the C2PA coalition, promoting global standards for transparency in AI content.
Google has also been training journalists through AI workshops and has partnered with organizations like CANVAS to produce a media literacy magazine called YOUTHink, which is available in Filipino, Cebuano, and Ilocano.
Platform safety protocols
In collaboration with Comelec, Google conducted specialized workshops to help the agency better understand platform safety protocols and reporting tools. These sessions enhanced coordination between Comelec and YouTube for escalating harmful content during the election period.
Comelec Chair George Erwin M. Garcia lauded the initiative, saying, “We thank and commend Google for ensuring Filipinos have accessible and reliable election information online, empowering them to make informed choices.” —Ed: Corrie S. Narisma
