Is AI set to transform Philippine politics? As the Philippines gears up for its next elections, artificial intelligence (AI) is set to revolutionize political strategies. This technological shift isn’t just about efficiency; it’s fundamentally changing how political power is exercised and how voters are engaged. Rising Digital Repression Governments are increasingly using digital tools for surveillance and control. AI and mass surveillance technologies are becoming key instruments for monitoring and suppressing dissent, posing a serious threat to democratic freedoms. AI in Philippine Campaigns With the 2024 elections approaching, AI is reshaping campaign strategies. AI allows candidates to craft highly personalized messages and conduct virtual rallies, expanding their reach and impact. However, this also means campaigns must be wary of AI-driven misinformation and voter manipulation. Navigating the Challenges As AI transforms campaigning, there are challenges related to misinformation and digital ethics. Addressing these concerns requires improving public awareness of AI’s risks, adopting clear AI regulations, and learning from global practices. Moving Forward with AI For most of the country, embracing AI responsibly is important. By balancing technological innovation with ethical considerations, the country can enhance electoral engagement while safeguarding democratic processes.   How will AI impact the future of elections? Stay alert and informed as the digital age reshapes the election landscape.   By: Althea Nuestro & Pauline Anacay Source links INFO SOURCE: carnegieendowment.org usip.org dbresearch.com NEWS SOURCE: digiconasia.net  

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Deepfakes are everywhere, and some are even coming out of unexpected sites. Below are some of the ways to be informed on how deepfakes impact the public’s perception:   Political Manipulation Misinformation and Fake News Privacy Concerns Impact on Businesses   Deepfakes are deemed as attention-grabbing stunt in both short and long-form videos, with the rapid and quick sharing of information on social media sites– the “face-swapped pornography” of the current President Bongbong Marcos, surfaced amid late April this year.   Such manipulated audio and video are becoming more trending on social media platforms, making the uploaded content difficult to take down let alone identify. According to the Philippine News Agency, deepfake technology continues to threaten national security and is regarded as a form of  terrorism.   Keep your eyes open, and make sure you catch them. To mitigate its impact, here are some of the fool-proof hacks:   Women are known to be the primary target as subjects for intimate or sexually suggestive online videos, it is important to educate women about deepfakes Always questioning the source of information and analyzing the website algorithm to see if there are noticeable changes to the structure or layout is crucial. Also,seeking out different viewpoints from people would be of great help in discerning matters better.   Consequently, by encouraging safe online conduct; creating a multi-factor authentication system with a strong password, and generating a different one for every website. Being mindful of sharing such personal information should not be overlooked for artificial intelligence can easily interpret and decipher digital blueprints.   Evidenced by the proliferation of shallowfake and deepfake content, underscores the need for advanced software and legislation. As well as establishing a balance between innovation and building protection against harmful abuse will be crucial– demanding a coordinated effort by technology developers, legislators, and the general public to analyze A.I.generated media.   To learn more about the integration of Artificial Intelligence in Political Campaign, Join us at the National Election Game Changer Summit to learn winning tactics from global experts and stay ahead in the race for 2025. Don’t let your campaign fall behind—the future of elections is here!   References INFO SOURCE: Openfox.com NEWS SOURCE: rappler.com

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While the ban on POGO and the issue on West Philippine Sea were highlights of the recent State of the Nation address (SONA), Filipinos online are more interested to hear about salary increase in the government, and welfare protection of Overseas Filipino Workers, according to the latest scan of Facebook posts conducted by Capstone-Intel Corp. The research and intelligence firm said there were 3,212 posts about SONA based on the two-day scan of publicly available Facebook pages from July 22 to July 23, 2024, which gained a total of 418,769 reactions and an engagement score of 119,646.4. Malacanang’s RTVM livestream of President Marcos’ SONA gained the highest engagement score of 10,297.  But comments were mixed, with some praising the President’s achievements, while others criticized him for lack of good service and protection for OFWs. One of the comments to RTVM’s livestream stated: “Walang maayos na serbisyo sa OFWs. Kailangan namin ng proteksyon, hindi koleksyon.” The Facebook post of the Department of Budget and Management on President Marcos’ announcement regarding salary increase for government workers for 2024 and additional medical allowance starting next year was ranked second in the highest engagement score of 7,831.5. However, a post by the Philippine Star about President Marcos’ announcement on the ban of all POGO effective July 22, 2024 ranked only third in engagement score at 4,805.2. Engagement score is computed as (Comments + Reactions)0.1 + Shares. Atty. Nicasio Conti, chief executive officer of Capstone-Intel Corp. said while there is a high interest in SONA, a large number of Filipinos online were expecting concrete plans of President Marcos particularly on creating more jobs, decent wages and livelihoods. He said given the attention on the livestreams of SONA, Filipinos are indeed interested to hear more from the President during the SONA. “However, the engagement scores of Facebook scan on SONA showed that Filipinos are more interested on issues directly affecting them such as employment and medical benefits, as well as improving the lives of our OFWs and their families,”said Atty. Conti. Meanwhile, a Facebook post by ABS-CBN on the statement of Vice President Sara Duterte’s boycott of President Marcos’ SONA  gained the highest “ haha”2,501.5 engagement score. One of the comments to the Facebook post stated: “What a drama for the next presidential elections…” Majority of the reactions on SONA posts were positive, with 48.6 percent “like” and 29 percent “love” reactions from the 418,769, while there were 0.3 percent “sad,” and 0.5 percent “angry.” Atty. Conti, who served as commissioner for the Presidential Anti-Graft Commission (PAGC) said  he POGO issue had gained satisfactory attention for the past months, reflecting a high interest among Facebook users.     ****   For more information and interview opportunities regarding surveys, you may contact Capstone-Intel’s Research and Publications Director, Ella Kristina Domingo-Coronel at 09565711298. Capstone-Intel is a high-impact research company that uses innovative research technologies, tools, and methods to convert data and information into breakthrough insights and actionable intelligence outputs. It is committed to helping its clients solve problems, find solutions, grow markets and constituencies, build reputations, navigate risks, manage crises, and be the country’s leading private research and intelligence agency.

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