On 6 November 2025, the AI4DEBUNK Multi-Stakeholder Round Table took place at the Brussels Press Club, bringing together more than 20 experts from academia, media, policymaking, and technology. Organised by Pilot4DEV and the AI4DEBUNK consortium, the event focused on Europe’s growing challenge of digital disinformation. A pre-recorded message from MEP Brando Benifei highlighted the EU’s latest AI policy developments, including the AI Act, and stressed the need for trustworthy digital ecosystems.
Dr. Pascaline Gaborit opened the meeting by presenting the project’s mission to develop AI-based tools that help citizens, journalists, and policymakers detect misinformation and disinformation. Presentations explored emerging trends in online manipulation, from decentralised influencer-driven content to AI-powered bot networks, with case studies on Russian narratives about Ukraine and climate-related disinformation. Participants also discussed the difficulty of measuring the scale of false content, AI contamination, and challenges linked to enforcing the Digital Services Act.
Social science findings from six European countries showed that policymakers, journalists, rural communities, minority groups, and young people are among the most exposed to disinformation. The research highlighted the rise of gendered disinformation targeting women in public life, reinforcing the need for stronger media literacy and engaging educational tools such as comics, games, and interactive videos.
The technical team showcased early versions of AI4DEBUNK’s tools, a browser plug-in, a smartphone authenticity checker, and a VR/AR educational platform, all designed to provide transparent evidence rather than definitive judgments. The project also introduced its forthcoming collaborative, GDPR-compliant fact-checking platform and educational strategy promoting intergenerational learning.
Dr. Gaborit closed the event by announcing that the tools are expected to be released within the next 12 months and inviting participants to join the new AI4DEBUNK Task Force. The meeting reaffirmed the project’s commitment to strengthening media and digital literacy across Europe and improving citizens’ ability to navigate an increasingly complex information environment.
