Comelec to include social media activities in campaign spending limit guidelines

The Commission on Elections (Comelec) on Monday announced that it is planning to include social media activities in the expanded guidelines on campaign spending limits.

The commission will regulate campaign expenses spent on social media on three specific points:

• the production cost of material posted,
• the cost of boosted posts, and
• the cost of troll farms.

“Number one 'yung cost ng materials na pino-post natin online. 'Yun yung mga production cost ng video. Halimbawa if you're putting out a jingle, how much it cost to produce that jingle?” Comelec spokesperson James Jimenez told GMA News Online.

“Second, 'yung boosted post na tinatawag. Ordinary post sa social media, it is disseminated for free, but occasional you are able to increase the circulation of your post by paying,” he added.

The cost of establishing a troll farm, Jimenez admitted, will be the hardest one to monitor, considering no candidate will ever confess to having an army of paid internet trolls.

“'Yung pangatlo 'yung pinakamahirapo siguro. Gusto rin natin sawatahin yung troll farms,” he said.

Jimenez clarified that the Comelec is only expanding the coverage of its guidelines to keep up with the current set-up of campaigns.

“Hindi nito paghihigpit sa social media, kundi pagpapalawak ng reports and requirements sa campaign spending,” he said.

“In this case, pumapasok tayo sa teritoryo ng social media, kasi dati wala tayong tinitignan na kahit na anong spending sa social media e, pero ngayon, ito na 'yun,” he added. — BM, GMA News