Philippines

Google, YouTube implement measures to support Philippine midterm Elections

From voter assist to combating misinformation

Published

May 8, 2025

GadgetMatch

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.

Related Topics:Google Philippine Elections YouTube

Lifestyle

NBA, Salmon team up for multi-year partnership

In the Philippines

Published

August 29, 2026

GadgetMatch

NBA x Salmon Philippines | NBA House Philippines

The National Basketball Association (NBA) and Salmon have announced a multi-year marketing partnership that makes the financial technology company an Official Partner of the NBA in the Philippines.

The announcement was made on August 29 at NBA House Philippines 2026 presented by Gatorade in Makati City. NBA Head of Southeast Asia and Asia Marketing Sheila Rasu, NBA Asia Head of Growth and Innovation Ed Winkle, and Salmon Co-Founders George Chesakov, Pavel Fedorov, and Raffy Montemayor attended the announcement.

Bringing NBA experiences closer to fans

Through the partnership, Salmon will engage basketball fans through NBA-themed consumer promotions, fan events, and NBA-branded premiums.

Salmon will also have a presence at major NBA events in the Philippines. This includes serving as a Supporting Partner of NBA House Philippines 2026, a free basketball experience and fan event at SPACE in One Ayala on August 29 and 30.

Starting with the 2026-27 season, Salmon will also become the Presenting Partner of the NBA 3X Philippines Open. The tournament features men’s and women’s 3-on-3 teams alongside NBA entertainment.

“Basketball is a part of our daily lives as Filipinos, from the courts in our barangays to the TV screens in our homes,” said Salmon Co-Founder Raffy Montemayor.

Montemayor said the company wants Salmon to become a reliable partner for Filipinos’ everyday money moments. He added that working with the NBA gives the brand a way to connect with Filipinos through something they already love.

Rasu said Salmon shares the NBA’s commitment to using basketball to bring Filipinos together. She added that the partnership will create new touchpoints for fans through events such as NBA House and the NBA 3X Open.

NBA continues its PH presence

Filipino fans can watch NBA games through One Sports, RPTV, NBA TV Philippines, Disney+, Pilipinas Live, Prime Video, and NBA League Pass through the NBA App. The league also maintains localized social media accounts on Facebook, TikTok, and X.

The partnership comes as the NBA continues to deepen its presence in the Philippines, one of the league’s major basketball markets.

Salmon is a financial technology brand in the Philippines owned by Salmon Group. Its local operations include Salmon Bank (Rural Bank) Inc., a BSP-regulated entity, and Salmon Finance Inc., an SEC-licensed financing company.

News

realme 16T 5G with 8000mAh battery, IP69 Pro rating launches in PH

Pre-order perks include discount, extended warranty, more

Published

August 29, 2026

GadgetMatch

Graphics by Vincenz Lee | GadgetMatch

The realme 16T 5G has officially launched in the Philippines. This midrange device is headlined by an 8,000mAh battery, 50MP main camera, and IP69 ruggedness.

Available in Aurora Green and Starlight Black, the realme 16T 5G is priced at:

PhP 22,999 (8GB+128GB)
PhP 24,999 (8GB+256GB)

But starting August 28, customers can get the lower-priced variant for as low as PhP 15,731.

At all official realme stores nationwide, customers who pre-order the realme 16T 5G from August 28 to September 3 and claim their reserved unit from September 4 to 15 can enjoy offers worth PhP 7,298.

Pre-order perks include:

Free Laifen SE Lite Hair Dryer
Free Privilege Card with 6-Month Extended Warranty and 6-Month Damage Protection
Instant PhP 2,000 off

Meanwhile, customers who purchase the smartphone during the First Selling Period from September 4 to 15 can enjoy offers worth PhP 3,499, including an instant discount.

Furthermore, the device is available for flexible payment options via Home Credit (0% at up to 18 months).

More power, more moments

As previously teased, the realme 16T 5G comes with power and endurance designed to last for years. The 8,000mAh Titan Battery’s large battery capacity enables users to wield the device for up to two days on a single charge.

This battery also comes with a 7-Year Battery Health Guarantee, retaining at least 80% capacity even after being with the owner for years. When it is time to recharge, the battery supports 45W SUPERVOOC charging.

On its back is a 50MP Sony IMX852 main sensor, running on TÜV Rheinland-certified LumaColor IMAGE Algorithm. This is built for accurate skin tones and balanced exposure between subject and background.

The camera package’s standout feature is Vibe Master Mode, which gives shots a classic film camera look straight out of the app. Users can also switch to Pro mode and shoot in RAW DNG for extra editing room.

They can also tweak settings directly before pressing the shutter so captures would be ready for posting.

The realme 16T 5G also comes with NEXT AI imaging suite for quick AI-powered editing features. This suite includes AI Edit Genie 2.0, AI Perfect Shot, AI Eraser, AI Portrait Glow, and AI Instant Clip.

In front, the phone comes with a 6.8-inch 144Hz display with up to 1,200 nits of peka brightness. The phone also carries an IP69 Pro rating for water and dust protection, as well as Armor Shell and military-grade shock resistance.

Automotive

Inchcape Philippines and Changan are parting ways

The two companies won’t renew their distribution deal, with the transition running through Q4 2026.

Published

August 26, 2026

MJ Jucutan

Inchcape Philippines and Changan have mutually agreed not to renew their distribution partnership in the country. The companies announced the decision, citing Changan’s own long-term plans for the Philippine market as the reason.

The partnership enters a transition period that runs through Q4 2026. During this time, existing customer commitments remain in place, including aftersales support, warranty coverage, parts, and service.

Alex Hammett, Inchcape’s Managing Director for South Asia & Pacific, said Inchcape Philippines and Changan have worked together since 2023 to build the Changan brand locally, supported by Inchcape’s distribution network and dealer relationships.

He thanked the Inchcape Philippines team and dealer partners for their role in that effort over the past three years.

Inchcape says the Philippines remains a key market for the company. It continues to distribute Mercedes-Benz passenger cars, trucks, and buses, along with Jaguar Land Rover, and operates the retail business for Harley-Davidson locally. The company’s stated focus going forward is growing its existing portfolio and introducing new products to Filipino customers.

The Philippines also houses Inchcape’s Digital Delivery Centre and Global Business Services teams, which together employ more than 700 people supporting the company’s global operations.

Further details on arrangements after the transition period, including Changan’s next distribution partner, have not yet been announced.