Philippines
Google, YouTube implement measures to support Philippine midterm Elections
From voter assist to combating misinformation
Google and YouTube are rolling out several features as the Philippines gears up for the 2025 midterm elections on May 12th. These include initiatives aimed at connecting Filipino voters with reliable election-related information and safeguarding their platforms from potential abuse.
The two platforms are proactively implementing tools to enhance voter access to credible sources. On YouTube, users searching for information on 2025 senatorial candidates will now see an information panel displayed above search results. The panel will provide key details about the candidate. This includes their political party, and a direct link to Google Search for further information.
On Election Day itself, YouTube’s homepage will feature a prominent shelf dedicated to live coverage from authoritative news organizations. These live streams will be available in both English and Filipino. This will allow viewers to stay updated on election news and results as they unfold.
Additionally, a “How to vote” playlist from the Commission on Elections (COMELEC) will be promoted on YouTube. This starts on May 12th and will offer Filipinos essential voting guidelines, requirements, and a step-by-step process.
Google Search will continue to prioritize authoritative information through its ranking systems. This is to ensure that voters receive relevant and contextual details on various election-related queries.
Platform Integrity, combating abuse
Beyond providing information, Google and YouTube are emphasizing the protection of their platforms from abuse. The company reiterated its long-standing policies against harmful content. This applies universally to all content, regardless of language, generation method, or political leaning.
Specifically, content that misleads voters on how to vote or encourages interference in the democratic process is strictly prohibited on YouTube. The platform will swiftly remove content that incites violence, promotes hate speech, disseminates harmful conspiracy theories, or threatens election workers.
Google’s latest Transparency Report indicated that the Philippines ranked 8th globally for video removals. These are due to policy violations on YouTube between October and December 2024. Over 153,000 videos have been taken down. Repeated policy violations can lead to channel termination.
Navigating AI-generated content
In response to the increasing prevalence of AI-generated content, Google and YouTube have introduced policies and tools to aid users in discerning its nature:
- YouTube Content Labels: Creators are now required to disclose the presence of altered or synthetic content in their uploaded videos. Labels indicating such alterations will appear in the video description panel, providing crucial context. For election-related content, these labels will be directly visible on the video player, irrespective of the creator, political viewpoints, or language.
- Google’s “About this Image” and Gemini’s Double-Check: Google Search’s “About this Image” feature assists users in evaluating the credibility and context of online images. Gemini’s double-check feature assesses whether web content supports its responses, offering an additional layer of verification.
- Digital Watermarking: Google is actively working on embedding watermarks using DeepMind’s SynthID in all images generated through its products.
- Industry Collaboration: Google and YouTube have joined the C2PA coalition and standard, a cross-industry initiative focused on providing greater transparency and context for AI-generated content. This collaboration will bring C2PA’s technical standards for metadata to Ads, Search, and YouTube.
Furthermore, Google is actively training media organizations through AI Workshops. This will equip journalists and news leaders with the knowledge and tools to responsibly leverage generative AI in their work. This includes election news coverage.
Supporting Media Literacy and COMELEC
In lieu of allowing political advertisements during the election cycle, Google and YouTube are proactively supporting media literacy programs and the COMELEC. This is to ensure that voters have access to trustworthy information.
Google has invested in local media literacy initiatives, partnering with organizations like CANVAS to create the YOUTHink magazine. IIt teaches readers to identify reliable information. YOUTHink has been adapted for various regions in the Philippines and published in multiple languages, including Filipino, Cebuano, and Ilocano.
In a collaborative effort to strengthen election integrity, Google has also provided specialized training workshops for COMELEC. These sessions detailed Google’s strategies for safeguarding elections on its platforms, best practices for platform safety on YouTube during critical periods, and a comprehensive overview of reporting tools available to government partners.
This collaboration aims to facilitate more effective coordination between COMELEC and YouTube in addressing potentially policy-violating content.
Antigravity A1’s Philippine debut at BGC High Street on December 13 signaled a shift towards a more intuitive and immersive drone flight experience, making it easier for new users while still offering depth for seasoned creators.
Billed as the world’s first all-in-one 8K 360 drone, the Antigravity A1 made its Philippine debut through a one-day pop-up showcase attended by members of the media, filmmakers, and creators. Instead of focusing solely on raw specs, the event focused on the actual experience of flying, filming, and storytelling. How it powers creativity through an immersive and intuitive experience.
EZ, VR-like piloting
Most drones are built around precise piloting and careful camera framing. The A1 takes a different, revolutionary approach. At the heart of the A1 is its dual-lens camera system, capable of capturing 8K 360-degree video. Instead of committing to a single angle mid-flight, creators can record the entire environment in one pass, then choose the best framing later in post-production.
Rather than relying solely on traditional joysticks, the Antigravity A1 is designed for a headset-first flying experience. Using Vision Goggles paired with a motion-controlled grip, pilots steer the drone by pointing where they want to go. The experience almost feels like a VR video game. High-resolution Micro-OLED displays and real-time head tracking add to the immersion. For experienced pilots, classic FPV controls will become available. This demonstrates that the Antigravity A1 adapts precisely to the user’s skillset.
Compact & Travel friendly
Weighing 249 grams, it fits within sub-250g drone regulations in many regions, making it easier to travel with and operate responsibly.
Battery life reaches up to 24 minutes, with optional high-capacity batteries available for longer sessions. A retractable landing gear protects the camera lenses during takeoff and landing while keeping the view unobstructed.
First live flight in the Philippines
The BGC High Street pop-up featured the first live demo flight of the Antigravity A1 in the Philippines, led by brandfilmmaker Sid Maderazo. The demonstration gave attendees a firsthand look at how the drone performs in real-world conditions, highlighting its intuitive controls and immersive flight experience.
The demo also showed how the A1 lowers the barrier to entry for newcomers, while still offering enough creative depth for experienced pilots and filmmakers.
The event concluded with a celebratory toast, marking Antigravity’s official entry into the local market and signaling its ambitions for a new chapter in aerial creativity.
Price and availability in the Philippines
The Antigravity A1 is now available nationwide through authorized Insta360 retail stores in the Philippines. It comes in three bundles:
- Standard Bundle – ₱84,990
- Explorer Bundle – ₱97,990
- Infinity Bundle – ₱104,990
Each bundle includes the Antigravity A1 drone, Vision Goggles, and Grip Controller, with additional accessories varying by package.
You can also shop online through official e-commerce platforms:
- Shopee: Insta360 PH
- Lazada: Insta360 Philippines
- TikTok Shop: Insta360 Philippines
News
Capcom Singapore, Mapua University partner for new programs
Parties to explore education program centered around games, IP, digital culture
Capcom Singapore has announced an official collaboration with Mapua University in the Philippines, as well as Prime Manpower to develop an innovative educational program themed around ‘Games, Intellectual Property & Digital Culture.’
The partnership aims to leverage Capcom’s expertise in game business and Intellectual Property (IP) education cultivated in Japan to create an international model for talent development.
It aims to start in the Philippines before extending across the ASEAN region. The initiative will launch with a signing ceremony on January 26, 2026, followed by a special lecture the next day.
Planned topics for the first special lecture are:
- Intellectual property rights related to creations in game development, including
characters, music, programs, and game systems - How game IP expands into merchandise, anime, movies, e-sports, licensing, and
other business areas - The importance of IP protection and IP strategy in the global market
This lecture will be headed by speaker Motoki Okuyama, the general manager of Capcom’s Intellectual Property Department.
Through classes, project-based learning (PBL), and internships, the program will nurture creators, engineers, and business professionals for the global gaming industry. It will also promote the study of intellectual property.
Meanwhile, both Mapua University and Prime Manpower will likewise leverage their strengths to jointly design and implement practical programs that connect education, industry, and career pathways.
Specifically, the university will design and manage courses and curriculum. It will also support student projects and collaborative research initiatives, as well as enhance the learning environment through on-campus facilities and resources.
On the other hand, Prime Manpower will connect students with the industry. This creates internship opportunities and networking in general. There will also be career support programs for students and graduates.
Entertainment
Binge-watch your favorite anime with this new Ani-One YouTube channel
Ani-One PH Collection channel features full season compilations
Ani-One Philippines has officially launched Ani-One PH Collection, a new YouTube channel made for non-stop anime marathon viewing.
Created especially for Filipino fans, the dedicated hub is designed for the ultimate binge-watching experience.
It takes hit titles from the main Ani-One Philippines channel and reimagines them for the binge-watching audience. Videos range from about four to nine hours in length.
This means no more need to click “Next Episode” every 20 minutes or so; the new channel also features Full Season Compilations — entire seasons of one’s favorite anime stitched together into single, uninterrupted videos.
Among the anime titles that can be found on the channel are:
- Tsukimichi: Moonlit Fantasy
- The Angel Next Door Spoils Me Rotten
- The Healer who was Banished from his Party is in fact the Strongest
- In Another World With My Smartphone
- The Dreaming Boy is a Realist
In addition, content is localized for those who prefer Tagalog-dubbed anime. For instance, Kaiju No. 8 is available in Tagalog audio.
There are also curated libraries depending on one’s preferred genre, like Isekai, Romance, Fantasy, and Action.
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