New youth-led fact checking service will hold politicians to account ahead of Holyrood election
For first time voters, having the Future Proof fact checking service will help them cast their ballots
A new youth-led digital project is set to tackle misinformation and disinformation to help young voters cast their ballots wisely.
Future Proof is a new fact-checking initiative led by the Scottish Youth Film Foundation (SYFF).
It will give six young journalists from around Scotland the chance to report on the election campaign with support from a global fact checking organisation.
One of the team, Robert Thorne, from Kiltarlity, said: “Scotland’s unique political and electoral system is easily misunderstood.
“This is especially true for those new to it, including young, first-time voters.
“Disinformation, on and offline, only muddies the waters further.
“Entering this electoral season, Future Proof aims to tackle each of these challenges - ensuring our democracy is fair, so far as it is well-informed.”
The group will work with Full Fact to produce four weekly live shows on YouTube, broadcasting every Tuesday at 6pm until April 29.
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Each programme will investigate misleading claims, fabricated facts and AI generated content circulating during the campaign, while highlighting the issues that matter most to young voters.
Following each broadcast, the team will host a companion interactive webinar.
This will give young people - particularly first time voters - the chance to quiz journalists and expert guests directly on key topics shaping the election.
Sessions will also provide discussion material for teachers and schools pupils to use in class.
The team of six young journalists has been recruited from alumni of SYFF’s Festival of Politics project.
During the Scottish Parliament’s annual festival they have produced original content and conducted interviews with high-profile figures including Masha of Pussy Riot, Professor Danny Dorling, and actor Jack Lowden.
David Barras, co-founder of the Scottish Youth Film Foundation, said: “Future Proof puts young people at the heart of one of the most important conversations in modern democracy – how we recognise truth in an age of misinformation.
“By giving young journalists the tools to investigate claims and question narratives, we’re helping ensure that the next generation of voters is informed, confident and ready to engage.”
Global fact-checking organisation Full Fact has been working with the team and will provide advice during the campaign.
Mark Frankel from Full Fact added: “These elections are taking place against a backdrop of an unprecedented distortion of facts.
“The public feels ill-equipped to deal with the manipulation of information they see before them and the threat of AI as they see it.
“Things are emerging online which are being pushed to them and they don’t know whether to believe it.
“It’s clear that this is undermining trust in our politicians, trust in the political system and the future of our democracies.”
The post-show webinars are being delivered with support from Scotland’s Development Education Centres, working collectively on media literacy as part of global citizenship education under the umbrella of Scotland’s International Development Alliance (SIDA).
The project is being advised by Huw Owen, a former BBC Scotland News Editor who is also the Co-Chair of the Education Committee of SIDA.
Mr Owen said: “The impact of malicious and careless communication via digital and social media is now having a profound effect on all our lives.
“Supercharged by AI fakes, it is fuelling polarisation and fear within and between many of our communities here in Scotland and beyond.
“It is a clear threat to civilised debate and long shared democratic values.”
The John Smith Centre at Glasgow University will also contribute guest speakers and provide access to a youth hustings event taking place at St Giles’ Cathedral in Edinburgh on April 26.
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