As Filipinos gear up for the May 12 midterm elections, it’s more important than ever to know where your information is coming from.
Google and YouTube are stepping in with tools and policies to help ensure voters can access credible, timely, and trustworthy election-related content while keeping their platforms safe from abuse.
Verified info when you search
Looking up a 2025 senatorial candidate on YouTube? You’ll now see an information panel above your search results showing verified details, like the candidate’s political party and a link to Google Search for more. It’s one more way to cut through misinformation and stay focused on facts.
Real-time coverage on Election Day
On May 12, YouTube’s homepage will spotlight live election coverage from trusted media outlets, with streams available in both English and Filipino. You’ll also find COMELEC’s official “How to Vote” playlist, featuring step-by-step guides and voting requirements.
Keeping the platforms safe
YouTube’s Community Guidelines apply to all content—regardless of who’s posting or their political leanings. Any video that misleads voters or promotes violence, conspiracy theories, or interference in the election process is removed.
From October to December 2024 alone, the Philippines ranked 8th globally for YouTube policy violations, with over 153,000 videos removed. Repeated violations may result in channel termination.
Additional policy resources:
- Community Enforcement Overview
- YouTube Misleading Voter Content Policy
- Harmful Misinformation Guidelines
Tackling AI-Generated content
With more AI-generated content online, Google and YouTube now require creators to label synthetic or altered videos, especially around elections. Viewers will see these labels directly in the video player.
Search tools like “About This Image” and Gemini’s double-check feature also help people assess image credibility and verify web-based claims.
To promote transparency, Google embeds digital watermarks using SynthID into AI-generated images, and has joined the C2PA coalition to support global metadata standards across content.
Boosting media literacy
Google works with groups like CANVAS to distribute YOUTHink, a media literacy magazine now available in Filipino, Cebuano, and Ilocano. These efforts help voters recognize disinformation and make more informed choices.
For journalists, AI workshops equip media teams with tools to cover elections using emerging technology responsibly.
“Supporting the elections is important to Google and YouTube. As Filipinos prepare for the May 12 elections, we are committed to robust collaboration with the government, industry, media, and civil society,” said Yves Gonzalez, Head of Public Policy and Government Relations at Google Philippines.
“A well-informed electorate is fundamental to COMELEC’s mission for credible elections. We thank and commend Google for their valuable contributions,” added COMELEC Chair George Garcia.
Your quick election checklist
Before you cast your vote this May 12, make sure you’re ready—not just with your ballot, but with the right info. Here’s a quick checklist to help you stay informed, protected, and confident on Election Day.
▪️Search smart – Look for verified info panels on YouTube and use Google’s trusted sources
▪️Watch responsibly – Stick to live coverage from authoritative news orgs
▪️Stay alert – Spot AI content with labels and u tools like “About This Image”
▪️Think critically – Learn from media literacy tools like YOUTHink
▪️Know your rights – Watch COMELEC’s official guides on how to vote
This May 12, let’s vote informed.
