Launch of Infotester4Education: Development and implementation of artificial intelligence-based educational methods and digital tools to support the fight against disinformation
The project aims to address the growing problem of disinformation in the digital age, with a particular focus on its impact on democratic values and academic environments. By utilizing digital tools and innovative teaching methods, the consortium aims to support EU citizens, especially students, in effectively detecting and countering disinformation.
The world of technology is inextricably linked with information. Frequently repeated misinformation deepens fear among the public and perpetuates false beliefs, which can often lead to catastrophic social consequences.
At least three different types of unreliable web content have been identified:
1) disinformation (false, intentionally harmful),
2) misinformation (false, but without harmful intent),
3) malinformation (true, but used in a harmful way).
Unreliable content includes conspiracy theories, rumors, and fake news, as well as propaganda and state-sponsored disinformation used for political purposes or information warfare. It has been noted that much unreliable content is specially designed to make verification difficult or impossible. Creators of unreliable content rely on plausibility rather than verifiability, and appeal to emotions and the pursuit of sensation.
The main goals include increasing awareness of the spread of false information and strengthening practical skills in detecting disinformation. By developing a course on information credibility verification and an AI-powered Disinformation Detection Service, the project aims to integrate these skills into educational programs. The result is to empower individuals to make informed, fact-based decisions in the real world.
In line with EU priorities on digital transformation and innovative teaching practices, the project addresses the need for practical training in media literacy and disinformation detection. By filling gaps in existing courses and integrating debunking methodology, the project offers a comprehensive approach to combating disinformation.
The project will pioneer media literacy by providing an AI-supported automated disinformation detection service for independent learning. This innovative approach ensures scalability and accessibility, enabling students to independently verify credibility assessments. It will thus contribute to building a society resilient to disinformation and digital threats, promoting a safe digital environment and adherence to democratic values in the digital age.
Erasmus+
Project title: Development and implementation of AI education methods and digital tools supporting the fight against disinformation
Project number: 2023-2-PL01-KA220-HED-000180856
Consortium leader: Science4People (S4P) spółka z ograniczoną odpowiedzialnością
Project partners:
University of Veliko Tarnovo (VTU) – Bulgaria,
Open University of Cyprus (OUC) – Cyprus,
Tampere University of Applied Sciences (TAMK) – Finland,
Polish-Japanese Academy of Information Technology (PJAIT) – Poland
Project implementation period: 01.04.2024 – 31.03.2027
Total budget: EUR 400,000.00
Funding source: Partnerships for Cooperation in Higher Education, ERASMUS+, Foundation for the Development of the Education System, Poland
