For the upcoming Presidential Election in the Phillippines on May 2022, Google has announced in an update to its Political Content Policy posted Wednesday, banning political ads from running on its platform.
Politicians and individuals in the Philippines will not be permitted to run election advertisements between February 8 and May 9, 2022. This time period happens simultaneously leading up to 'Halalan 2022', the country’s national and local elections, set on May 9th.
"From February 2022, Google will not allow election advertisements to run in the Philippines during an election campaign period or a silence period. Election advertisements are ads that promote or oppose any political party or the candidacy of any person or party for public office."
Google wrote in the update, saying it will send notifications to affected advertisers in regards to the policy update.
The new policy is in line with the Philippines' preparation for next year’s Presidential election for people to vote for a successor to President Rodrigo Duterte, who is barred from seeking a second term under the Philippine constitution.
A number of candidates are currently fighting for the position; including Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr., the son of former dictator Ferdinand Marcos; incumbent Vice President Maria "Leni" Robredo; Manila Mayor Francisco “Isko Moreno” Domagoso; and former boxing champion Manny "Pacman" Pacquiao amongst others.
The 2022 Philippine Election isn’t the first time Google has banned political ads from running on its platform. Google has also taken similar precautionary measures leading to every national election in other foreign countries including USA and Canada.