Let's hack disinformation
Would you like to fight disinformation in the online environment using smart technologies or increase resistance against false information in an interactive way?
- Prize money for the winner: 3000 €
- 7th - 8th October 2022
- Campus City, Bratislava
Aftermovie
Join the fight against disinformation
Disinformation has proven to be a real threat to democratic countries. Whether we speak about social topics, politics or health care, false information that has become viral on social media and other media channels can cause serious harm to the citizens.
EU countries are constantly coming with new ways on how to stop the spread of false information, but as we can see, only an innovative tech solution can bring a real change.
One of the ways to bring new and innovative ideas is through a hackathon. An event during which professionals and enthusiasts from various fields meet and work together to create a solution for the problems our society is facing each day.
Due to the importance and relevance of this issue, we have decided to address the topic of hoaxes and disinformation during the first hackathon of a series of 20 events aimed at the modernization and digitalization of public administration.
Aim of the hackathon
The goal of the hackathon is to develop innovative technological solutions that will effectively combat the spread of misinformation and hoaxes, contributing to the protection of democracy and citizen safety.
Winners
First place
Pishkotky
Marianna Szarková, Marko Tomčík, Jozef Švagerko
PWA – The modules in the app are implemented as gamified tests that students can complete weekly. The app also includes a competitive element through scoring and class ranking comparisons. Implementation – The most suitable approach is through secondary school administrators, as it offers the broadest possibility for onboarding the highest number of users.
Second place
DEKK Inštitút
Pavol Kosnáč, Ján Pastorek, Michal Gačko, Dagmar Wikarská
We have developed a Chrome extension as an “analytical Swiss knife” that combines various indicators of a website’s trustworthiness (ranging from the number of citations and sources the website references, to the number of shares and countries where the website spreads, to an API for sentiment analysis based on the Big-5 personality metrics used in personality psychology, along with other data).
Citations and website distribution data are useful for both the public and journalists, while other indicators are valuable for government officials and analysts.
Third place
Incidental Minds
Boris Brnčal, David Vereš, Maťo Vančo
The solution is a meaningful yet entertaining digital game set in a 3D space, where you play the role of an editor reviewing the truthfulness of news articles prepared by external journalists from a local media outlet and decide whether to publish them.
The political mood in the city shifts independently but can be influenced by the articles you approve. At the end of the game, the player receives an evaluation showing which regime would prevail in their city – democratic or autocratic – based on how successfully they identified misinformation.
List of Mentors and Experts
Marcela Belianska
FiF UK BA
During her research work, Marcela focuses on IT and media literacy, disinformation, influencers' phenomenon on social media as well as hidden threats in the online environment. Marcela is an expert on the challenge "media literacy".
Róbert Móro
KInIT
Robert works as researcher in the Kempelen Institute of Intelligent Technologies where he focuses on AI research especially within the fight against disinformation. Robert is an expert on both challenges.
Róbert Barca
AFP
Robert dedicates his work towards hoax contradictions on the Internet as Digital Verification Journalist in the French press agency AFP, which is the only entity within Slovakia serving as a third party in cooperation with Meta. He is expert on the challenge "unmasking disinformation".
Martin Hrabovec
Revolware
Martin is expert on both challenges. Among the projects he is currently working on, project HOPE is focusing on the resistance against disinformation, extremism and cyber security. HOPE is an educational platform teaching its users in a playful way how to use logical and decent argumentation on the Internet as well as how to defend against various attacks. With his …
Viktória Norisová
Council for Media Services
Viktoria copperated on the EDUMEDIATEST project, which aimed to create an interactive digital tool for evaluation and improvement of media competence of European students aged 14 - 18. She is expert on the challenge "media literacy".
Daniel Milo
Ministry of Interior of the Slovak Republic
Daniel is expert on both challenges. His main fields are hybrid threats, extremism, paramilitary groups and usage of disinformation by foreigners.
Stanislav Matějka
Council for Media Services
Stanislav works as coordinator for European matters and leads foreign agenda in the Council for Media Services. In cooperation with the EU commission he is mainly focusing on the fight against disinformation and illegal online content on the EU level. He is an expert on the challenge "unmasking of disinformation".
Tomáš Kriššák
Gerulata
Tomas' expertise is IT security. He works in the Slovak technology company Gerulata Technologies, where he is responsible for improving ways to monitor digital platforms for clients from both the state and private sector. Tomas is an expert for both hackathon challenges.
Opinions of hackathon participants
Tomáš Očenáš
A jury member and representative of the startup community, CEO of Campus Cowork
The hackathon exceeded our expectations. We had far more hacking teams here than usual at hackathons. Typically, 5 to 8 teams can deliver high-quality solutions, but this time we had 12 teams. Nine people didn’t go home or even sleep! I believe many teams brought solid foundations, but of course, the most important phase is now the implementation of the winning solutions.
As an innovative startup hub, our task was to bring together skilled hackers, designers, coders, students, and idea makers in one place to create valuable solutions. We fulfilled our mission. I am already looking forward to more hackathons in collaboration with MIRRI. Let’s show that we can make good use of both European and local budget funds.
Marianna Szarková
From the winning team,
Pishkotky
I’m very happy for our mini team. We met on the day of the hackathon. Jožo and Marko were highly driven. They had already won several hackathons and regularly participate in such competitions. For me personally, it was something new. I knew I had to be ‘fresh’ for the presentation and sell our solution to the jury. That’s why I decided to get some sleep between Friday and Saturday. The guys stayed up all night, coded the MVP of the app, and proposed additional features — and it worked out! Maybe those few hours of sleep in my bed combined with the all-night hustling at the coworking space did the trick. We’re super happy.
Gallery
Do you want to be part of the next step towards Slovakia’s digitalization?
Prize money
- First place 3000 €
- Second place 2000 €
- Third place 1000 €
Simply fill out the registration form, and we will contact you in due time with all the details. You will receive information about the competition, updates, and specifics of the challenge.
Martin Hrabovec
Revolware
Martin is expert on both challenges. Among the projects he is currently working on, project HOPE is focusing on the resistance against disinformation, extremism and cyber security. HOPE is an educational platform teaching its users in a playful way how to use logical and decent argumentation on the Internet as well as how to defend against various attacks. With his colleagues from Revolware they saved the portal Sebavedome Slovensko after the attack of hackers.