MANILA, (PIA) — Commission on Elections (Comelec) Commissioner Nelson J. Celis outlined the mandate and purpose of the newly established Task Force KKK, which stands for “Katotohanan, Katapatan, at Katarungan” in the upcoming elections.
The task force, Celis said during an interview on the Impormasyon at Aksyon teleradyo program presented by the Philippine Information Agency, was initiated in July 2023, and created in response to the growing concern over misinformation, malinformation, and disinformation prevalent on social media platforms.
“We anticipated that there would be a surge in fake news, especially during election periods,” Celis explained. Originally dubbed the “Task Force Kontra Fake News,” its primary objective is to combat the spread of false information.
Celis noted that the task force was formed following discussions among various election management bodies, including nine organizations that convened in December 2023 to address the issue of fake news.
He highlighted the involvement of international partners, including the International Federation of Election Systems, which called for an additional meeting in Bellagio, Italy.
This gathering included representatives from major tech companies such as Meta (formerly Facebook), TikTok, Google, YouTube, Snap, X (formerly Twitter), and Microsoft.
The commissioner emphasized the dual nature of artificial intelligence (AI) technology, which can aid in research but also be misused for generating deepfakes and spreading false narratives.
“We recognized that AI could be used for both good and bad purposes,” he said.
As a result of these discussions, tech companies agreed to collaborate with Comelec to swiftly address and take down instances of fake news. Celis noted that the companies have committed to rapid responses when informed of violations.
In September 2024, Comelec issued Resolution 11064, formally establishing Task Force KKK. Its role will involve monitoring the proliferation of fake news on social media and enforcing penalties for violations of the resolution. Violators could face significant consequences, with penalties ranging from one year to a maximum of six years in prison.
“With the elections approaching in 2025, we aim to ensure a fair and truthful electoral process by tackling the spread of misinformation,” Celis concluded. (JCO/PIA-NCR)
