Thraets

Category: Issues

  • AI-Generated Misinformation and Disinformation Idea-thon

    AI-Generated Misinformation and Disinformation Idea-thon

    Help Solve a Major Societal Problem—Bring Your Ideas to Fight Misinformation and Disinformation

    AI-generated Misinformation and disinformation pose a significant threat to democracy. They are spread by local/foreign state actors, businesses and malign non-state actors bent on undermining and damaging free and liberty-loving republics. A new grassroots strategy is needed: bottom-up rather than top-down.

    That is why Thraets, Outbox Hub and CIPESA are holding an AI Mis/Disinformation Idea-thon session to address the problem and find new solutions. Teams will form to attack misinformation and disinformation from four tracks: government, business/technology, nonprofit, and Foreign Actor. 

    Winning team will receive a prize!

    Examples of work products include new novel product changes to social media platforms, new methodologies to investigate the trends,  legislation and regulations, a business plan for a tech start-up, a mobile app, an academic course, or a new nonprofit. Be creative!

    Technical skills are needed, but not necessary to participate. Just bring your best ideas for combating AI misinformation and disinformation.

    A note on AI mis/disinformation  Idea-thon structure and teams: 

    The teams will be organized by the primary category their solution falls under: Government, business/technology, nonprofit, and education. 

    Coaches: There will be one coach per category, whose role will be to help fill in any knowledge gaps and help the teams best achieve their goal.

    Join us for a 2-hours long idea-thon! Come join a team, invite your friends.

    Sign up here or Contact Thraets at [email protected] with questions about the event.

  • Thraets joins Digital Democracy Initiative

    Thraets joins Digital Democracy Initiative

    Thraets has joined the Digital Democracy Initiative(DDI), a programme aimed at safeguarding inclusive democracy and human rights in the digital age. It is delightful news to announce that as we set out on a journey to combat digital threats against the truth, democracy, and social unity in the digital age, Thraets will be joining the Advisory Board of the Digital Democracy Initiative. 

    In a world where technology and democracy are increasingly intersecting, the news that Thraets has joined The Digital Democracy Initiative (DDI) is nothing short of exciting and is a game-changer for the future of Digital Democracy.

    Ngamita Richard, the Founder and Executive Director of Thraets will join the Advisory Board members of the Digital Democracy Initiative in a move that promises to revolutionize how we engage with governance in the digital age, bringing transparency, engagement, and digital rights to the forefront. 

    The Digital Democracy Initiative is a global effort funded by the Danish Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA) and the European Union and implemented in partnership with Access Now, CIVICUS, Digital Defenders Partnership and Global Focus. 


    Richard highlighted the growing threat of social media influencers being covertly utilized in influence operations and elections across the global south and how pan-Africanist activists and social media influencers, funded by authoritarian regimes as well as foreign countries, are mobilizing citizens throughout these regions.

    Ngamita Richard, the Founder and Executive Director of Thraets

    DDI’s goal is to support civil society around the world to continue strengthening civic space and promoting inclusive democracy in the digital age through two mutually reinforcing streams: Enable local civil society in the Global South to utilize digital technology to amplify efforts to promote inclusive democracy. (Led by CIVICUS and Global Focus) and Defend and protect civil society and inclusive democracy by promoting stronger rights-focused policies and standards on digital technologies and improved security provision for civil society. (Led by Access Now and Digital Defenders Partnership)

    This opportunity serves as a starting point for Thraets to mitigate digital threats, such as synthetic media, surveillance tools, and coordinated or gendered disinformation campaigns before they can be weaponized to destabilize nations.
    Learn more about the Digital Democracy Initiative and the Advisory Board here.

  • Thraets Secures Grant to Protect African Elections from AI-Generated Mis/Disinformation

    Thraets Secures Grant to Protect African Elections from AI-Generated Mis/Disinformation

    We are thrilled to announce that @Thraets, which was incubated under the Outbox Foundation has been awarded a grant by the Africa Digital Rights Fund (ADRF), managed by CIPESA (the Collaboration on International ICT Policy for East and Southern Africa). This grant will fund our project titled “Safeguarding African Elections – Mitigating the Risk of AI-Generated Mis/Disinformation to Preserve Democracy.”

    With numerous African countries, including Tunisia and Ghana, preparing for elections in 2024’s “Year of Democracy,” our project is timely and critical. It aims to counter the increasing threats posed by AI-generated disinformation campaigns that could jeopardize free and fair elections.

    Our research will focus on the upcoming electoral processes in Tunisia (presidential, local and municipal elections in November 2024) and Ghana (presidential and parliamentary elections in December 2024). These countries were selected for their regional significance and the crucial role of supporting democracy in West and North Africa.

    Through this initiative, we aim to:

    1. Develop an open-source AI tracking and knowledge hub to crowdsource and monitor AI-generated content related to the elections.
    2. Conduct red teaming activities to refine investigative methodologies and enhance AI detection tools/tutorials for identifying synthetic and manipulated media.
    3. Train journalists and civil society organizations to detect and counter AI-generated disinformation tactics.
    4. Advocate for platform accountability and robust content moderation policies.

    In an era of advanced AI capabilities that can mislead and divide, defending the integrity of the democratic process is crucial.

    By leveraging technology, building capacity, and fostering multi-stakeholder cooperation, we aim to uphold citizens’ rights to freely express themselves, access accurate information, and participate in shaping their nations’ futures.

    We look forward to sharing more updates as we progress. Stay tuned!