Here's why Google is pausing election ads for the 2022 national elections
Google has announced that it will not run election advertisements in the Philippines during the election campaign period from February 8, 2022 up to May 9, 2022.
Instead, Google will focus on election-related initiatives that aim to help people access accurate information via product features and media literacy programs, encourage participation in the voting process, and help protect the integrity of the elections.
This policy will apply to election advertisements that are purchased through Google's advertising platforms such as Google Ads, Display and Video 360, and Shopping platforms.
Meaning, Google and its other partner properties such as YouTube won't run ads that promote or oppose any political party or the candidacy of any person or party for public office.
Google’s work toward supporting the elections has already started earlier this year beginning with the magparehistroka.com website of COMELEC in partnership with MullenLowe TREYNA and Dashboard Philippines.
The animation-based and interactive website features the animated ghosts of the country’s national heroes to urge qualified voters to register for the upcoming elections.
“Nandyan din ‘yung learnings sa (magparehistroka.com). Tinuturuan natin ang kabataan, through the website, that will resonate with them. We hope this will be easy for them to understand since relatable ito sa kanila," COMELEC spokesperson James Jimenez shared with PhilSTAR L!fe.
"We felt that it’s time for a fresh approach. We thought of certain personalities and looked further. We realized na throughout our educational life, paulit-ulit tayong pinapakilala sa mga bayani natin. Paulit-ulit tayong pinapakilala sa mga heroes natin pero kilala lang natin sila base sa mga tinuturo sa atin. And we realized that they were regular people called to extraordinary circumstances,” Jimenez added.