This text was published by IBERIFIER, one of fifteen EDMO Hubs.
Maldita’s initiative aims to help young people understand how AI works and strengthen their ability to identify manipulated content and disinformation in the digital environment. Maldita has launched ECHO, an educational escape room designed to help young people discover how artificial intelligence works and develop the key skills needed to navigate an increasingly digital environment shaped by disinformation with a critical mindset. Through the experience, participants take on the role of content moderators for ECHO, a fictional social media platform, where they must tackle a range of challenges related to the use of artificial intelligence. Their tasks include identifying automated accounts, spotting AI-generated content and detecting inappropriate or problematic uses of the technology. The initiative uses the escape room format to explore issues surrounding artificial intelligence and disinformation in a practical and engaging way. Participants are required to analyse content and make decisions while applying critical thinking and media literacy skills. ECHO is also accompanied by an educational guide for teachers and educators, which provides an opportunity to explore the key issues addressed during the game in greater depth. The resource covers topics including climate disinformation, how generative AI works, information verification, emotional manipulation and content moderation on social media.
As part of the international workshop dedicated to the challenges and future of academic freedom, prof. Ph.D. Mato Brautović, chief coordinator of the ADMO project, gave a lecture entitled “Digital Threats to Academic Freedom: The Role of Disinformation and Social Media”.