Election watchdogs kick off AI debates, youth training a year before 2025 polls | ABS-CBN
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Election watchdogs kick off AI debates, youth training a year before 2025 polls
Election watchdogs kick off AI debates, youth training a year before 2025 polls
Sherrie Ann Torres,
ABS-CBN News
Published Jun 17, 2024 03:34 PM PHT
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Updated Jan 06, 2025 03:22 PM PHT
Comelec Board of election Inspectors and poll clerks begin the counting of ballots as voting ends at the Paranaque Elementary School Central in Paranaque City on October 30, 2023. Jonathan Cellona, ABS-CBN News/FileMANILA —The National Citizens Movement for Free Elections (Namfrel) has started training youth volunteers to help guard the 2025 midterm polls.
Comelec Board of election Inspectors and poll clerks begin the counting of ballots as voting ends at the Paranaque Elementary School Central in Paranaque City on October 30, 2023. Jonathan Cellona, ABS-CBN News/FileMANILA —The National Citizens Movement for Free Elections (Namfrel) has started training youth volunteers to help guard the 2025 midterm polls.The first batch of volunteers that Namfrel trained was composed of college students and one senior high school student in Mandaluyong City.
The first batch of volunteers that Namfrel trained was composed of college students and one senior high school student in Mandaluyong City.
Jasmin Encarnacion, 16, said she joined Namfrel due to her father’s dedication to serve the country through the same organization.
Jasmin Encarnacion, 16, said she joined Namfrel due to her father’s dedication to serve the country through the same organization.
“It was also a personal decision of mine... I want to be an active citizen, I want to know anything or more about my country, about what’s going on... I said to my dad, 'Can I join you?'” Encarnacion told ABS-CBN News.
“It was also a personal decision of mine... I want to be an active citizen, I want to know anything or more about my country, about what’s going on... I said to my dad, 'Can I join you?'” Encarnacion told ABS-CBN News.
Twenty-year-old Mary Ann Caparroso of Marikina City applied as a Namfrel volunteer because she wanted to know more about the country’s electoral exercises.
Twenty-year-old Mary Ann Caparroso of Marikina City applied as a Namfrel volunteer because she wanted to know more about the country’s electoral exercises.
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"The youth must help in securing the votes of our fellow youth. That we should not be easily swayed or fooled by those candidates," she said.
"The youth must help in securing the votes of our fellow youth. That we should not be easily swayed or fooled by those candidates," she said.
Rizal Technological Institute student Ahlix Caubajero, another Namfrel volunteer, said that if given the chance, he said he would prefer to be deployed in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao elections.
Rizal Technological Institute student Ahlix Caubajero, another Namfrel volunteer, said that if given the chance, he said he would prefer to be deployed in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao elections.
Lito Averia, Namfrel National Chairperson, said that part of the youth-volunteers’ training is to inculcate in them the importance of every election and involvement of young voters themselves.
Lito Averia, Namfrel National Chairperson, said that part of the youth-volunteers’ training is to inculcate in them the importance of every election and involvement of young voters themselves.
“Nagde-deploy naman kami talaga ng volunteers sa mga voting centers, and kung possible, kung marami-rami, dun sa polling place mismo, kung saan ang bumoboto. To observe, yung processes ng election day,” Averia said.
“Nagde-deploy naman kami talaga ng volunteers sa mga voting centers, and kung possible, kung marami-rami, dun sa polling place mismo, kung saan ang bumoboto. To observe, yung processes ng election day,” Averia said.
(We deploy volunteers in voting centers and polling centers if we can.)
(We deploy volunteers in voting centers and polling centers if we can.)
Namfrel volunteers had to learn every step of election activities, from the transportation of election machines to its assigned warehouse, to municipalities.
Namfrel volunteers had to learn every step of election activities, from the transportation of election machines to its assigned warehouse, to municipalities.
Guarding the printed ballots to be produced by the National Printing Office (NPO) also requires volunteers, Averia said.
Guarding the printed ballots to be produced by the National Printing Office (NPO) also requires volunteers, Averia said.
Averia said a volunteer should be 18 years old so they can be deployed to the field. Minors are assigned only to the Operations Center, he said.
Averia said a volunteer should be 18 years old so they can be deployed to the field. Minors are assigned only to the Operations Center, he said.
THOUGHTS ON AI DURING ELECTIONS
Meanwhile, Legal Network for Truthful Elections (LENTE) already started the discussion about Comelec's position that artificial intelligence (AI) and “deepfake” technology must be banned during the 2025 election period.
Meanwhile, Legal Network for Truthful Elections (LENTE) already started the discussion about Comelec's position that artificial intelligence (AI) and “deepfake” technology must be banned during the 2025 election period.
In the Lente podcast on AI entitled “A.I. Naku!: How to Safeguard Election Information Integrity,” veteran journalists underlined the importance of educating voters regarding new technologies that may be applied in next year’s elections.
In the Lente podcast on AI entitled “A.I. Naku!: How to Safeguard Election Information Integrity,” veteran journalists underlined the importance of educating voters regarding new technologies that may be applied in next year’s elections.
Ellen Tordesillas, president and co-founder of Vera Files; Nieman fellow for Journalism Jaemark Trdecilla; and Gemma Mendoza, Head of Rappler Digital Strategy all frowned at the idea of banning AI use in next year’s campaign.
Ellen Tordesillas, president and co-founder of Vera Files; Nieman fellow for Journalism Jaemark Trdecilla; and Gemma Mendoza, Head of Rappler Digital Strategy all frowned at the idea of banning AI use in next year’s campaign.
“Ang laking bagay if we prebunk, or inoculate or educate our audiences. We have a yuong population, tapos every election there are a new set of young voters. So, there needs to be an effort na tulungan sila para maintindihan ang mga bagong technology, at palakasin yung kumbaga, yung resistensya nila to misinformation,” Tardecilla said.
“Ang laking bagay if we prebunk, or inoculate or educate our audiences. We have a yuong population, tapos every election there are a new set of young voters. So, there needs to be an effort na tulungan sila para maintindihan ang mga bagong technology, at palakasin yung kumbaga, yung resistensya nila to misinformation,” Tardecilla said.
Media literacy, he said, should be coupled with “critical thinking.”
Media literacy, he said, should be coupled with “critical thinking.”
For Tordesillas, an outright ban on AI use during elections is outrageous.
For Tordesillas, an outright ban on AI use during elections is outrageous.
“Walang solusyon dun kundi education... We need informed and an empowered citizenry,” Tordesillas said.
“Walang solusyon dun kundi education... We need informed and an empowered citizenry,” Tordesillas said.
Combatting those who sow fake news, Mendoza said, should be a collective effort of social media platforms and government agencies concerned.
Combatting those who sow fake news, Mendoza said, should be a collective effort of social media platforms and government agencies concerned.
“They are doing this on child porn, but there’s nothing that has yet to happen in relation to political content,” Mendoza said.
“They are doing this on child porn, but there’s nothing that has yet to happen in relation to political content,” Mendoza said.
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