In her 2025 State of the Union address, President Ursula von der Leyen delivered a powerful message:
“Our democracy is under attack. The rise in information manipulation and disinformation is dividing our societies. It is not only eroding trust in the truth – but also in democracy itself. This is why we urgently need the European Democracy Shield.”
As part of this effort, President von der Leyen announced the creation of the European Centre for Democratic Resilience and the launch of a new Media Resilience Programme—two major initiatives to reinforce the EU’s capacity to monitor, counter, and prevent disinformation and support independent media.
Over the past two years, AI4Debunk has been working at the heart of this agenda. The project delivers practical, human-centered AI tools to help citizens, journalists, and educators identify and respond to false or manipulated content across platforms.
AI4Debunk contributes essential building blocks to this shared European mission, including:
- Mapping disinformation drivers and their societal impacts
- An open-source API that scores the credibility of content and flags potential manipulation
- User-friendly verification tools (browser plug-in, mobile app, AR/VR interfaces)
- Disinfopedia, a collaborative fact-checking platform supported by expert review
- Educational resources to boost media literacy, especially among younger audiences
Fully aligned with the European Democracy Action Plan (EDAP), AI4Debunk promotes media freedom, civic resilience, and critical thinking—ensuring that Europe’s digital and democratic spaces remain protected and trustworthy.
As President von der Leyen reminded us: “This is a fight for our future.” AI4Debunk is proud to stand alongside European institutions and civil society in defending truth, transparency, and democracy.
Because fighting disinformation is not just about technology. It’s about safeguarding freedom, trust, and democracy for all.
ᯓ★ About AI4Debunk
AI4Debunk is funded under the Horizon Europe programme (Grant Agreement No. 101135757) and brings together multidisciplinary partners working to equip European citizens with the knowledge, frameworks, and critical tools needed to navigate today’s complex information landscape.
