MANILA, Philippines — Less than a month before the May 12 national and local elections, the Commission on Elections (Comelec) has announced the deployment of voting alerts and Election Day reminders on Facebook and Instagram to stop “misleading information” online, the poll body said. 

In a resolution, the initiative, developed in partnership with Meta, is aimed at combating false and misleading information circulating online.

According to Comelec, the alerts will provide voters with timely and authoritative information on where and how to vote. They will also highlight services such as early voting hours for senior citizens, persons with disabilities, and pregnant voters, as well as information on mall and internet voting.

On May 12, reminders will appear at the top of Facebook and Instagram feeds, directing users to verified information and the official Comelec website.

The measure is part of a broader campaign to address online disinformation, which Comelec says is crucial for ensuring voters are able to make informed choices.

“Election Day involves several key factors, which includes meeting them where they are—on social media platforms—and making certain that they have quick and easy access to information about elections that they can trust,” the poll body said.

Comelec is also working with other technology companies and platforms through its Task Force Katotohanan, Katapatan at Katarungan (KKK) sa Halalan, which was launched to combat misinformation and disinformation in elections.

This follows a Pledge of Support signing held in October 2024 for the upcoming elections.

The Pledge aligns with international commitments made during a February 2024 event in Bellagio, Italy, where Comelec joined other election bodies in crafting voluntary guidelines for technology companies. These include ensuring access to authoritative information and establishing strategies to address misinformation about electoral participation.

It also said they remain focused on promoting accurate information and protecting the credibility of the electoral process.