Quito’s MediaHack: A Collaborative Effort Against Disinformation
In a world increasingly grappling with the pervasive nature of disinformation, particularly during critical periods like elections, a vibrant community in Quito, Ecuador, is taking a proactive stance. Born from a casual conversation three years prior, the Hacks Hackers Quito chapter, a part of the global Hacks Hackers network, was reignited in 2025, spearheading a collaborative effort to combat the spread of false narratives and empower citizens with tools for informed decision-making. This revival culminated in MediaHack, a two-pronged initiative comprising a conference on the intersection of artificial intelligence and disinformation, followed by a dynamic hackathon focused on developing practical solutions.
The conference, titled "Artificial Intelligence and Disinformation during Elections," set the stage for the hackathon by delving into the complex dynamics shaping Ecuador’s information landscape. Held at the Simon Bolivar Andean University just weeks before the 2025 presidential runoff, the conference featured expert insights from leading academics and researchers. Jorge Cruz Silva of the Observatory of Communication (OdeCom) and Pontifical Catholic University of Ecuador (PUCE) highlighted the alarming potential of AI and bots to amplify fake news, questioning whether society is hurtling towards an era of total information manipulation. Luciana Musello, a research professor at Universidad San Francisco de Quito, shattered the myth of the isolated online troll, revealing the structured, business-like nature of disinformation campaigns, complete with hierarchies and targeted marketing strategies. Danghelly Zúñiga, a researcher at the Universidad del Rosario (Colombia), explained how AI’s ability to process vast datasets enables the strategic manipulation of electoral discourse. The overarching consensus from the panel pointed to a problem deeply rooted in societal identities, amplified by AI, and ultimately monetized through a burgeoning disinformation economy.
The heart of MediaHack was the two-day hackathon, "Citizen Technologies for Informed Decisions," held at PUCE. This event brought together a diverse group of approximately 60 participants, including developers, programmers, data scientists, journalists, and researchers, all united by a common goal: to develop innovative solutions to combat electoral disinformation. The hackathon focused on three key challenges: AI-powered fact-checking, transparency in campaign funding, and analysis of digital narratives. This intensive collaborative environment yielded three winning projects, each awarded $1,200 and specialized mentoring to further develop their prototypes.
The first winning project, Goddard, aptly named after Jimmy Neutron’s canine companion, functions as a digital detective, analyzing news from Ecuadorian media using AI. The platform detects hate speech, evaluates the informative tone of articles, and cross-references data with reliable sources, alerting users to suspicious content and providing clear analyses. Importantly, Goddard goes beyond simple fact-checking by educating users on how to identify credible news and contrast sources, fostering crucial media literacy skills.
VeritasAI, the second winning project, empowers citizens to report electoral irregularities in real time through a geo-referenced reporting system. Users can anonymously and securely document incidents, categorize them, and attach multimedia evidence from any device. This information is centralized on an interactive map, enabling efficient monitoring and the identification of potential risk patterns. Designed for accessibility, the platform is compatible with low-speed internet connections, ensuring broader participation in electoral oversight.
The third winning project, PillMind, tackles the often-confusing language of political discourse. Recognizing that complex electoral promises can leave citizens vulnerable to manipulation, PillMind leverages AI and multidisciplinary analysis to translate technical jargon into simple, accessible explanations. The platform not only breaks down campaign promises but also verifies and contextualizes them, presenting information from diverse perspectives – economic, social, and historical – to equip voters with the tools for informed decision-making.
The culmination of MediaHack marked not an end, but a beginning. The three winning teams presented their projects publicly, seeking further support and funding to transform their prototypes into fully realized solutions. The event, supported by Hacks Hackers Latam, Openlab, Unesco, and the Communication Observatory of PUCE, successfully revitalized a vital community committed to unifying journalism, technology, and citizen engagement in the fight against disinformation.
The MediaHack initiative serves as a powerful example of how collaborative efforts can address the complex challenges posed by disinformation. By bringing together diverse expertise and focusing on practical solutions, the event fostered innovation and empowered citizens with the tools they need to navigate the increasingly complex information landscape. The ongoing work of these teams holds significant promise for improving the information ecosystem and strengthening democratic processes in Ecuador and beyond. The organizers of Hacks Hackers Quito have pledged to continue creating venues for experimentation, debate, and development of new tools throughout 2025, signaling a sustained commitment to combating disinformation and promoting informed civic engagement.
