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Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City

TWENTIETH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

657

HOUSE BILL NO.

Introduced by: Hon. Keith Micah “Atty. Mike” D.L. Tan

AN ACT
PROVIDING FOR THE FAIR USE OF THE INTERNET AND SOCIAL MEDIA FOR THE HOLDING OF
FREE, ORDERLY, HONEST, PEACEFUL AND CREDIBLE ELECTIONS

EXPLANATORY NOTE

Elections in the Philippines, while constitutionally guaranteed as democratic exercises of the
sovereign will, are historically marred by allegations of fraud, misinformation, vote-buying,
violence, and manipulation. These issues have significantly eroded public trust in the electoral
process, especially among marginalized and vulnerable sectors. Despite sustained efforts by
institutions such as the Commission on Elections (COMELEC) to uphold clean and credibleelections,
the emergence of new technologies—particularly the internet and social media—has introduced
both opportunities and complex challenges in shaping public opinian and electoral outcomes.

According to the Global Digital 2025 Report, approximately 97.5 million Filipinos are active
internet users, and 90.8 million are social media users—repreSenting a staggering 78% of the total
population.! Moreover, the same report reveals that a majority of Filipino users consider social
meclia as their primary source of news and information. This heavy reliance places the electorate in
a highly vulnerable position, where algorithm-driven content and unverified information can
disproportionately influence perceptions, decisions, and even voter behavior. In a 2022 study by
Ruppler and the University of the Philippines?, social media was shown to be a major vector of
disinformation during the elections, manipulating historical facts and distorting candidate profiles.

‘The fair and responsible use of the internet and social media, therefore, is no longer a mere
aspirational standard—it is a democratic imperative. Ensuring equitable access, regulating online
campaign practices, mandating transparency of political advertisements, and establishing
accountability mechanisms for online platforms would significantly contribute to a more informed,
participatory, and ethical electorate. Such measures empower voters to make choices grounded in
truth and critical understanding, rather than in deception and digital manipulation.

In light of these realities, there is a compelling need for a legislative framework that will
govern the fair use of internet and social media in the conduct of elections. While existing election
laws such as the Omnibus Election Code (Batas Pambansa Blg. 881) were crafted in an era preceding
the digital age, they lack the specific provisions needed to address online misinformation, digital
harassment, foreign interference, and algorithmic bias. A modern, responsive legal instrument will
bridge this regulatory gap, ensuring that the digital sphere becomesa tool for democratic deepening
rather than distortion. Only through such legislation can the Philippines truly safeguard the
integrity of its elections in the information age.

The bill seeks to address the growing influence of online platforms on public opinion and
voter behavior, recognizing that a significant portion of the Filipino population relies on digital
intormation as their primary source of news and political awareness.

Jigs. datarepartal som reports sigital-2025-pniippiees

2 Feapoter aint U nseesity at the Mulippines. (2022), klveton Disumormation f costsiencs tn sve Phulippines


By setting standards for transparency, accountability, and ethical conduct in the digital
space, this bill intends to prevent the spread of election-related disinformation, manipulation,
online harassment, and other forms of digital abuse that undermine the integrity of the electoral
process. It also seeks to regulate online campaigning and paid political advertisements, ensure
‘equitable access to information, and empower voters to make informed decisions based on verified

and credible content.
Keith Micah “Atty< Mike” D.L. Tan

4th District, Quezon



Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City

‘TWENTIETH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

HOUSE BILL No. 657

Introduced by: Hon. Keith Micah “Atty. Mike” D.L. Tan

AN ACT
PROVIDING FOR THE FAIR USE OF THE INTERNET AND SOCIAL MEDIA FOR THE HOLDING OF
FREE, ORDERLY, HONEST, PEACEFUL AND CREDIBLE ELECTIONS

Be it cnacted by the Senate and the House of Representatives of the Philippines in Congress assembled:

SECTION 1. Short Title. - Act shall be known as the “Internet and Social Media Regulation for
Fair Elections Act.”

SEC 2. Declaration of Policy. - The State shall, during the election period, supervise and
regulate the privileges granted under franchises or permits for the operation of the internet and
social media communication or information to guarantee equal opportunity for public service,
including access to internet and social media time and space; the equitable right to reply, for public
information campaigns and fora among candidates; and assure free, orderly, honest, peaceful and
credible elections.

Phe State shall ensure that candidates for any public office shall be free from any form of
online harassment and discrimination.

3. Definition of Terms. -

(a) Blog and collective blog refer to websites on which an individual or group of users,
respectively, record news, opinions, and information, in varying degrees of regularity. A
“micro-blog” refers to a blogging format which allows users to exchange small elements
of content - referred to variously as posts, entries or status updates - such as short
sentences, individual images, or links to video material uploaded to the Internet;

(b) Candidate refers to any person seeking an elective public office, who has filed a
certificate of candidacy, and who has not died, withdrawn the certificate of candidacy,
nor the certificate of candidacy denied due course or cancelled, or has been otherwise
disqualified before the start of the campaign period for which the certificate of candidacy
was filed: Provided, That unlawful acts or omissions applicable to a candidate shall effect
only upon the start of the aforesaid campaign period. It also refers to any registered
national, regional, or sectoral party, organization or coalition thereof that has filed a
manifestation of intent to participate under the party-list system, which has not
withdrawn the said manifestation, or which has not been disqualified before the start of
the campaign period;
Contractors and business firms refer to persons, natural or juridical, or firms to whom
the electoral expenditure is paid or due for payment in accordance with Section 112 of
the Omnibus Election Code, including media entities, media outlets, internet and social
media platforms, advertising agencies, public relations firms and other intermediaries,
event organizers, talent endorsers and their managers, digital influencers, and printing
press for the purpose of entering into political advertisement contracts; \_ _ “

{c


(ul) Election campaign or partisan political activity refers to an act designed to promote the
election or defeat of a particular candidate or candidates to a public office, and shall
include any of the following:

(i) Forming organizations, associations, clubs, committees or other groups of persons
for the purpose of soliciting votes and/or undertaking any campaign for or against a
candidate;

(ii) Creating on any social media platform, user groups or community pages, for the
purpose of conducting campaigns or related partisan political activity;

(iii) Holding political caucuses, conferences, meetings, rallies, parades or other similar
assemblies for the purpose of soliciting votes and/or undertaking any campaign or
propaganda for or against a candidate;

(iv) Making speeches, announcements or commentaries, or holding interviews for or
against the election of any candidate for public offic
(v) Publishing, displaying or distributing campaign literature or materials designed to
support or oppose the election of any candidate; or

(vi) Directly or indirectly soliciting votes, pledges or support for or against any
candidate.

(e) Electoral ads and electoral posts refer to advertisements and social media posts that have
for their primary purpose the promotion of the victory or defeat of a candidate;

(!) E-rally refers to a rally under Article X of the Omnibus Election Code which is conducted
for online audiences;

({g) Livestreaming refers to the live broadcasting of an event over the internet;

{h) Microtargeting refers to a form of targeting online advertisements that uses recent
technological developments to analyze a person's online usage, to preferentially serve
advertisements and other information that specifically reflect that individual user’s
preferences and personality;

(i) Online campaigning refers to the use of the internet to distribute campaign propaganda.
‘This includes text-only posts on social media, pictures, audio clips, and video clips,
regardless of duration, and all combinations of such formats;

(j) Party refers to either a political party, whether national or sectoral party, or a coalition
of parties, and party-list organizations duly registered /accredited with the Commission
on Elections (COMELEC);

(k) Political advertisement or election propaganda refers to any matter broadcasted,
published, printed, displayed or exhibited, in any medium, which contains the name,
image, logo, brand, insignia, initials, and other symbol or graphic representation that is
capable of being associated with a candidate, and is exclusively intended to draw the
attention of the public or a segment thereof to promote or oppose, directly or indirectly,
the election of the said candidate or candidates to a public office. In broadcast media,
political advertisements may take the form of spots, appearances on television shows
and radio programs, live or taped announcements, teasers, and other forms of
advertising messages or announcements used by commercial advertisers. Political
advertising includes endorsements, statements, declarations, or information graphics,
appearing on any internet website, social network, blogging site, and micro-blogging
site, which - when taken as a whole - has for its principal object the endorsement of a
candidate only, or which were posted in return for consideration or are otherwise
capable of pecuniary estimation;

(|) Social media refers to the collective of online communication channels, including
websites and applications, that enable users to create and share content, collaborate,
and interact with each other. For purposes of this Act, video sharing sites which allow
user's to post comments on individual entries shall be considered as falling within the
broad category of “social media”;

(m) Social media account refers to a user’s personalized access to a social networking site or
application, typically using a username and password combination. A social media
account allows a user to interact with other users on the same social networking site;

(n) Social media associates refer to contractors whose primary duty is to promote the
election or defeat of any candidate through social media interactions and engagement;



and
(0) Social media post refers to any text, audio, or graphic content ~ or any combination
thereof-published online using a social media account

C. 4. Use of the Internet and Social Media as Lawful Election Propaganda. - A National
Cybersecurity Plan (NCSP) shall be formulated to strengthen the country’s institutional capacity to
protect systems, networks, and programs from digital attacks and promote security and resilience
of the Philippine cyberspace. Election propaganda on the internet and the social media are hereby
allowed for all candidates seeking national and local elective positions, subject to the limitation on
authorized expenses of candidates and parties, observation of truth in advertising, and to the
supervision and regulation by the COMELEC.

Social media posts, regardless of format, whether original or re-posted from some source,
which may either be incidental to the poster's advocacies of social issues or which may have, for its
primary purpose, the endorsement of a candidate only including paid advertisements in internet
subject to the requirements set forth in Section 5 hereof and the Fair Elections Act shall also be
allowed

SEC. 5. Requirements and/or Limitations on the Use of Election Propaganda through Internet
and Social Media. ~ The use of the internet and social media for purposes of election propaganda
shall be allowed subject to the following limitations:

(a) Each registered political party/coalitions and candidate shall register with the
Education and Information Department (EID) of the COMELEG, the website name and
web address ofall platform-verified official accounts, websites, blogs and /or other social
media pages of such political party or candidate within thirty (30) days from the last day
of the period for the filing of the Certificates of Candidacy. Websites completing the
verification process after the said period and other social media accounts established
after the said period must be registered with the COMELEC-EID within five (5) days from
its verification or registration;

(b) Any other website, blog, or social media page not registered above but which, when
taken as a whole, has for its primary purpose the endorsement of a candidate, whether
or not directly maintained or administered by the candidate or their official campaign
representatives, shall be considered additional official websites, blogs or social media
pages of the said candidate, for all regulatory purposes;

(c) Only verified accounts, websites, blogs, and or social media pages may run electoral ads,
and boost or promote electoral posts;

(d) Microtargeting of electoral ads shall not be allowed: Provided, That electoral ads can be
targeted using only the following criteria: geographical location, except radius around a
specific location; age; and gender: Provided, further, That contextual targeting options
may also be used in combination with the above-mentioned criteria: Provided, finally,
‘That processing of personal data should comply with the provisions of Republic Act No.
10173, or the Data Privacy Act of 2012, its Implementing Rules and Regulations and
related issuances of the National Privacy Commission;

(c) Information contained in online campaign propaganda shall be truthful and not
misleading, nor shall it tend to unjustifiably cast doubt on the integrity of the electoral
process; and

(1) All electoral ads must show a disclosure that identifies who paid for the ad. All electoral
posts must show a disclosure that identifies it as a paid electoral ad, and discloses who
paid for the ad.

SEC. 6. Regulation of Election Propaganda through Internet and Social Media. - In all
instances, the COMELEC shall supervise the use and employment of online facilities insofar as the
placement of political advertisements is concerned, to ensure that candidates are given equal
opportunity under equal circumstances to make known their qualifications and their stand on
public issues, within the limits set forth in the Omnibus Election Code, the Fair Elections Act, and


appropriate rules,

SEC. 7. E-rallies and Livestreams Allowed. ~ Any political party or candidate, individually or
jointly with other aspirants, may hold peaceful online political meetings, rallies or other similar
activities during the campaign period. Such online political meetings, rallies, and similar activities
are not covered by the limitations on broadcast advertising.

Live streaming on the candidates’ social media platforms shall be considered a form of e-
rally, subject to the following rules:

(a) All e-rallies shall include a disclosure that identifies it as a political meeting or rally and
providing the relevant date, time, and location information. For this purpose, a live
stream on the candidate's social media platforms shall be considered a political meeting
or rally;

(b) Recordings of e-rallies shall be submitted to the COMELEC within 72 hours from the
airing of the same; and

(c) Candidates may receive in-platform gifts and game currency but shall not be allowed to
give gifts to livestream audiences, nor to run promotions and campaigns that will award
in-platform gifts or game currency to platform users and livestream audiences.

EC. 8. Prohibition on the Regulation of Legitimate Expressions by Private Individuals - The
COMELEC is hereby mandated to regulate expressions of candidates and political parties but shall
not in any manner include legitimate expressions by private citizens.

Public expressions or opinions or discussions or probable issues in an election or on
attributes of or criticisms against candidates shall not be construed as part of any election campaign
or partisan political activity.

SEC. 9, Reporting Requirements to be Submitted by Contractors and Business Firms. ~ Certified
true copies of all contracts, reports and receipts, and other documents, accompanied by all
its digitization copies, shall be submitted by contractors and business firms to the COMELEC.

Every content creator of a post, owner, or administrator of any website who airs or shows
the political advertisements, without the required data or having false information, in violation of
this Act shall be criminally liable with the candidate under Sec. 264 of the Omnibus Election Code
and, if applicable, suffer the penalties of suspension or revocation of franchise or permit in
accordance with law.

Within thirty (30) days after the conduct of the election, every person or firm to whom any
payment for electoral expenditure has been made shall file a written report using the prescribed
form which shall contain the following information, and accompanied with the official receipts
issued to the person with whom the contractor or business firm had transacted:

i, The full name of the candidate who incurred such expenditures;

ii ‘The nature or purpose of each expenditure;

iii. The description of the goods or services provided by the contractor or business firm;

iv. ‘The date when the expenses were incurred;

iv. The amount or cost thereof, and

v. ‘The serial number of the official receipt, cash invoice, or other Bureau of Internal
Revenue-approved document issued.

Reportorial requirements shall apply to all contractors and business firms transacting or
doing business in the Philippines, whether or not incorporated under the Philippine laws.

Social media associates, including paid digital influencers and online content creators, who
use social media platforms to promote or defeat the election of any candidate, are considered


individual contractors subject to reportorial requirements under this Act.

Agencies and other intermediaries between the entities producing and placing online
political advertisements and the candidate, political party, or party-list group shall also submit a
similar report.

Within the period provided by law, internet companies which include social media
companies, transacting or doing business in the Philippines, whether or not incorporated under the
Philippine laws, which a candidate or party utilize to directly reach out to voters and mobilize
support through the use of ads, paid promoted hashtags/trends, shall provide the COMELEC of the
information or documents containing the following:

i. The name of the candidate or party in the advertisement;

ii, The name of the person or advertising agency/public relations firm who paid the
advertisement;

ii, Page Name or Account Name or Handle where the advertisement was posted,
originated, or uploaded;

iv. The particulars of the political advertisement; and

v. The amount or cost of the advertisement.

SEC. 10. Election Offense. - Any violation of the provisions of this Act shall constitute an
election offense punishable under the first and second paragraph of Section 264 of Batas Pambansa
Blg. 881, otherwise known as the Omnibus Election Code of the Philippines, and other pertinent
laws, rules and regulations, whenever applicable. The COMELEC shall, through its duly authorized
legal officers, have the power, concurrent with other prosecuting arms of the government, to
conduct preliminary investigation of all election offenses and prosecute the same.

SEC. 11. Right of Reply. - Any candidate or person accused of violating any provision of this
Act shall be given the right of reply.

SEC. 12. Authority of the COMELEC to Promulgate Rules. - The COMELEC shall promulgate
and furnish all political parties and candidates and all concerned entities the rules and regulations
for the implementation of this Act, consistent with the criteria established in Article IX-C, Section 4
of the Constitution and Section 86 of the Omnibus Election Code.

Rules and regulations promulgated by the COMELEC under and by authority of this Section
shall take effect on the seventh day after their publication in at least two (2) daily newspapers of
general circulation. Prior to the effectivity of said rules and regulations, no political advertisement
or propaganda for or against any candidate or political party shall be published or broadcast
through the internet and social media.

SEC. 13. Separability Clause. - In case any provision of this Act is declared invalid or
unconstitutional, such declaration shall have no effect in the validity or constitutionality of the
remaining provisions hereof.

SEC. 14. Repealing Clause. - All laws, decrees, orders, rules and regulations or other issuances
or parts thereof inconsistent with the provisions of this Act are hereby repealed or modified
accordingly.

SEC. 15. Effectivity. - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its publication in the
Official Gazette or in any two (2) newspapers of general circulation in the Philippines.

Approved,