Commercial Innovation Opportunities for Civic Tech to Reduce Misinformation: "Thinking outside the bunk"
A report of expert-interview research into opportunities for new Civic Tech to reduce misinformation. The central argument is that misinformation is not only a technical problem but also a democratic and social one. It proposes four reasons to “think outside the bunk”: meaning beyond pre-/debunking.
Project Real
Using domain experts and co-creation to combat misinformation online and in person
Misinformation civic tech should provide tailored responses that match communities' contexts, languages, and trusted relationships. Co-design is important because people are more likely to engage with information that reflects their experiences and is delivered through familiar channels.
Project Real is a free collection of teaching resources on misinformation, digital literacy and online safety, developed for schools and youth settings. Its materials can be used either as a full teaching sequence or as stand-alone resources, and include lesson packs, videos and activities designed to help young people recognise and respond to misleading information online. The project is shared under a Creative Commons non-commercial licence.
The case is inspirational because it makes misinformation education more situated, practical and co-designed. Project Real involves young people, teachers, psychologists and practitioners in developing resources that speak to real online experiences. Its materials address issues such as fake news, edited images, fake accounts, conspiracy theories, fake videos, scams, online deception and digital footprints.
Project Real shows the value of working with the people closest to the problem: young people, educators and trusted professional partners. It also points to the importance of trusted local sources. Partnerships with actors such as Police Scotland and Education Scotland show how misinformation and online harm can be addressed through institutions that already have routes into schools, families and communities.
The challenge is scale and sustainability. Project Real has strong academic and educational foundations, but the wider question is how such work moves beyond research funding into a durable model. The opportunity for next-generation civic tech is to learn from such projects to help local actors adapt materials, identify trusted messengers, share tested resources, coordinate delivery and keep content updated as misinformation tactics change. Here, technology could help expand community-centred solutions.
Contact
Email: tom.wilkinson@gov.scot