THE LAUNCH OF DEBUNK INFORMATION VERIFIER APPLICATION
On the 2nd of October, 2024, Debunk Media Initiative marked a major milestone in the fight against misinformation and disinformation with the official launch of the Debunk Information Verifier Mobile Application.
It was held during the highly anticipated Media Viability Talks of the Media Challenge Initiative through a collaborative effort of the U.S. Mission Uganda both of whom have been instrumental in empowering the Ugandan public to combat misinformation.
Debunks’ fact-checking journey began from humble beginnings yet impactful in 2020 as a video fact-checking show which debunks misinformation to creating a WhatsApp BOT number (+256 771 222 159) in 2021, from which users could send false claims for instant verification through our fact-checking team. In 2022, we transformed the WhatsApp BOT into an API version which allowed users send in possible claims online for verification and have been able to reach over 5000 users through our WhatsApp BOT.
Today, we celebrate leveraging AI, through the Debunk Information Verifier App to provide users with factual information all over Uganda. The development of our mobile application kicked off in 2023 as a tool that would empower Ugandans fact-check information on their own. We have been able to utilize this application in the university trainings we carried out in fact-checking in partnership with the US Mission Uganda project and also market it online for general public to access.
The project has grown tremendously as the Debunk Information Verifier has been transformed into a fully functional mobile application which is now available on the Google Play Store and Apple Play Store. This mobile app has made it easier for Ugandans to verify information directly from their smartphones, ensuring that the battle against misinformation is fought on a broader and on a more accessible scale.
The App possesses a Q&A Session from which users can engage directly with the platform through a simple question-and-answer session. By submitting a query regarding the accuracy of specific information, the app provides an evidence-based response that either confirms or debunks the claim. On this section you are also able to also see previously answered questions from other users. It also has a News Checker Section which allows users to cross-check the accuracy of trending news stories and rumors, offering reliable verification from reputable sources. You are also able to access our previous fact-checks, podcasts and website while on this application.
The app is still a work in progress as we look forward to incorporating expert insight into it so that users can be able to interact with firsthand knowledge experience and fact-checking in various topics we deal in of health, human rights, climate change, democracy and others. We look forward to enhancing the app’s functionality ensuring it becomes reliable in Uganda’s battle to combat misinformation.