Social media platforms have become a political battle in Southeast Asian countries.
REPUBLIKA.CO.ID, MANILA – Alphabet Inc’s Google will ban political ads on its platform ahead of elections in the Philippines in May next year. Elections in the Philippines to elect a successor to President Rodrigo Duterte.
The decision was made amid the pressure on Platform social media on the management of political advertising in the 2020 US Presidential Election.
Platform Social media has become a political battleground in this Southeast Asian country. Research shows Filipinos top the global rankings for time spent on social media.
The date covers the campaign period in the Philippines until election day on May 9.
Google says notifications will be sent to affected advertisers regarding policy updates.
Google has already banned political advertising on its platform, including in the Canadian federal election in 2019 and ahead of the Singapore election in 2020.
Platform Social media such as Facebook have helped strengthen Duterte’s support base. Analysts see them as key to his electoral victory in 2016 and his loss to his allies in last year’s midterm polls.
The Philippines will elect a successor to Duterte, who, under the constitution, is not allowed to stand for re-election, but will run as a senator.
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