NEWSROOM

As the potential of artificial intelligence and deepfake technologies increases concerns about misinformation, critical digital literacy and fact-checking are growing, especially in 2024, when over 2 billion voters in 50 countries are expected to go to the polls. Through its certified education program, the verification platform aims to enhance digital literacy and cultivate independent fact-checkers.

TURKEY — As the end of the year approaches, the headlines are starting to reflect that 2024 will be a year of elections. During this time, in 50 countries worldwide, more than 2 billion people are expected to vote, raising concerns about the risks of misinformation, mainly due to the power of deepfake and artificial intelligence technologies. Since 2016, the independent verification organization Teyit.org has designed an online education program called Pürmerak Club to help individuals distinguish truth amid information chaos.

Teyit Community Manager Beyza Çalıkoğlu shared her thoughts: "The internet being a primary source of information access also increases the speed of misinformation spread. With our certified Pürmerak Club education program at Teyit.org, our goal is to enhance individuals' digital literacy and develop their critical thinking practices.”

Deepfake and artificial intelligence technologies increase the risk of misinformation

Artificial intelligence, 2023's buzzword and most popular technology, simplifies many processes but also increases risks due to applications like deepfake. According to some studies, two out of five people admit they cannot distinguish between artificial intelligence-generated fake videos and real ones, especially during critical periods like elections, heightening the risk of misinformation spread.

Emphasizing the increasing criticality of critical digital literacy, Beyza Çalıkoğlu said, “Teyit works to combat online misinformation during critical periods like elections, earthquakes, disasters, political events, and pandemics, which can be considered turning points in Turkish and world history. With this responsibility, we designed the Pürmerak Club, an education program offering a community-focused approach, something previously untried in Turkey. Fact-checker candidates can benefit from the skills and experiences of expert fact-checkers through online courses and the opportunity to develop their critical digital literacy. The Pürmerak Club offers participants the tools, critical perspective, and community they need.”

Participants who complete the education earn a certificate

Beyza Çalıkoğlu emphasized that the Pürmerak Club makes fact-checking tools and methods, verification methodologies, and perspectives on distinguishing misinformation accessible to individual internet users. “Until now, we’ve been working with our community on issues like transmitting dubious information and gathering findings. We’ve taken this approach further by involving the community in research processes. The problems in the information ecosystem are too comprehensive and multi-dimensional for a single stakeholder to tackle alone.

Launched in the summer of 2023, the Pürmerak Club will introduce new independent fact-checkers with a critical perspective to the ecosystem in a crucial year like 2024, marked by elections. The flexible courses, accessible anytime and appealing to everyone with a sense of curiosity, including communication professionals, journalists, students, politicians, and researchers, conclude with a certificate approved by the Communication Faculty of Bilgi University. Additionally, participants can join the community of fact-checkers through the Pürmerak Club Discord channel.”

“Employers can also empower their employees”

Highlighting that the rapid spread of misinformation is a problem and responsibility for all internet users, Teyit Community Manager Beyza Çalıkoğlu concluded her remarks with the following statements:

“Everyone who wants to be part of the fight against misinformation can join the Pürmerak Club to develop their critical digital literacy, learn fact-checking tools, and gain the opportunity to perform independent fact-checking. This education program, which also offers the opportunity to work alongside the Teyit.org team, provides a suitable platform for companies wanting to strengthen their employees regarding digital literacy. To strengthen internet users' immunity against misinformation in every crisis, Teyit, which produces explanatory research and guides, aims to expand its methods of combating misinformation to more individuals and increase the strength of the fight with the Pürmerak Club.”