Gaslight: Combating Misinformation with AI, Blockchain, and Quantum Cryptography
Gaslight aims to combat the pervasive spread of misinformation online by developing a secure, transparent system to validate information from sources like news stories and social media posts. This €2 million Proof of Concept will address societal issues caused by bad actors spreading dangerous stories, such as distrust, polarisation, fraud, and public health risks.
Leveraging AI for source tracing and correctness assessment, blockchain for transparent logging, and quantum-resistant cryptography for database security, the platform will be offered free to users, with revenue generated from anonymised analytics. As an open-source system with API access, Gaslight fosters innovation and aligns with the Digital Europe Programme's goals for digital trust, safety, and inclusion.
The Societal Impact of Misinformation
The rapid spread of misinformation online, driven by bad actors, poses significant societal challenges, eroding trust, fueling polarization, and causing tangible harm. False information can mislead individuals, influence elections, incite violence, or endanger public health.
A 2020 CDC survey found that 39% of US adults engaged in hazardous practices, such as ingesting disinfectants, due to false information about preventing COVID-19. Meanwhile, a 2022 study across 142 countries found that 58.5% of internet users worry about misinformation, with young and low-income groups most concerned.
Public Health Risks
Misinformation about health can lead to dangerous behaviors, delay healthcare access and increase mortality risks.
Political Instability
False stories can sway voter opinions or suppress turnout, undermining democratic processes.
Social Division
Misinformation creates echo chambers, deepening societal divides and hindering constructive dialogue.
Erosion of Trust
Persistent misinformation undermines confidence in media, science, and government institutions.
Benefits of a Secure Information Validation System
Gaslight offers transformative benefits to counter the spread of dangerous stories by bad actors. By providing objective validation, the platform helps users identify divisive misinformation, fostering informed dialogue and reducing societal divides.
The system's transparency counters the opacity of bad actors' tactics, building public confidence while protecting users from falling for scams disguised as news. AI automation ensures real-time verification to keep pace with online content creation.
Enhanced Trust
AI-driven analysis traces information origin and assesses accuracy against trusted fact-checking databases
Transparency
Blockchain logs the validation process immutably, allowing users to audit results
Inclusion
Web-based interface and browser extension make validation accessible to all
Security
Quantum-resistant cryptography protects against emerging threats
Technical Approach and Methodology
The Gaslight platform will leverage cutting-edge technologies to create a robust information validation system. Natural language processing models, such as BERT via Hugging Face Transformers, will analyse content, trace sources, and assess correctness against fact-checking databases like Snopes or EUvsDisinfo.
For transparent logging, the system will implement Hyperledger Fabric as a permissioned blockchain framework, with smart contracts automating the validation workflow. Lattice-based algorithms will provide quantum-resistant cryptography to secure the database against future threats.
Research and Development
Develop NLP models for content analysis and fact-checking, implement smart contracts, and integrate NIST post-quantum algorithms
System Development
Build cloud-based backend with GDPR-compliant encryption, RESTful API with OpenAPI specifications, and user-friendly interfaces
EU Digital Identity Integration
Develop APIs for EUDI Wallet authentication, aligning with eIDAS 2.0 requirements
Pilot Testing
Test with 1,000 users validating online content, gather diverse feedback, and assess system performance
Alignment with EU Priorities
Gaslight aligns closely with key EU digital initiatives, supporting the vision for a secure and trusted digital single market. By combating misinformation, the project directly contributes to digital trust and safety, a core goal of the Digital Europe Programme.
Integration with the EU Digital Identity Wallet ensures secure authentication, enhancing the EU's digital identity framework under eIDAS 2.0. The system's privacy-by-design approach, with data minimization and encryption, aligns with GDPR requirements while advancing the EU's 2030 Digital Compass goals.
Digital Europe Programme
Supports digital trust and safety by combating misinformation and enhancing online information integrity
eIDAS 2.0 and EU Digital Identity
Integrates with the EU Digital Identity Wallet for secure authentication, strengthening the digital identity framework
GDPR Compliance
Prioritizes privacy through data minimization, encryption, and user consent mechanisms
2030 Digital Compass
Advances a trusted digital environment, supporting the EU's goal of widespread digital ID adoption by 2030
Risks of Non-Adoption
Failing to adopt robust information validation systems like Gaslight would exacerbate serious societal issues. Without scalable validation tools, misinformation will continue to spread unchecked, fuelling distrust and potentially causing public health crises, as witnessed with COVID-19 vaccine misinformation.
False narratives would further widen social divides, undermining dialogue and social cohesion. Vulnerable populations would remain particularly susceptible to scams disguised as legitimate news, leading to financial and personal harm. The integrity of democratic processes would face increasing threats from election-related misinformation.
Unchecked Health Misinformation
Dangerous health practices and delayed care
Deepening Polarization
Widening social divides and undermined dialogue
Increased Fraud
Financial and personal harm from scams
Threatened Democracy
Election interference and eroded trust
Budget and Timeline
The €2 million budget for Gaslight is strategically allocated across development, testing, research, outreach, and project management. The largest portion (€800,000) is dedicated to technical development of AI, blockchain, cryptography, and API components, including cloud infrastructure costs.
The project follows a structured 24-month timeline, beginning with research and requirements gathering, followed by development phases for AI, blockchain, and cryptography components. The second year focuses on pilot testing with 1,000 users, analysis of results, system refinements, and culminates with the open-source release.
Budget Allocation
€800,000
Development
AI, blockchain, cryptography, API, cloud infrastructure
€500,000
Pilot Testing
User recruitment, deployment, monitoring
€700,000
Other Costs
Research, outreach, project management
Project Timeline
1
Months 1-6
Research, requirements, and initial development
2
Months 7-12
Cryptography, API integration, internal testing
3
Months 13-18
Pilot preparation and execution
4
Months 19-24
Analysis, refinements, open-source release
Sustainability and Ethical Considerations
Gaslight is designed with long-term sustainability in mind. While the platform will be free for all users, revenue will be generated through subscriptions for anonymised analytics insights, providing valuable data for researchers and organizations combating misinformation without compromising user privacy.
The open-source nature of the project encourages community contributions, reducing maintenance costs over time. For future scaling, the team will explore additional funding opportunities through programmes like Horizon Europe. All development will adhere to strict ethical guidelines, with particular attention to data privacy, AI fairness, and transparency.
Revenue Model
Free for users with subscriptions for anonymized analytics insights
Open-Source
Community contributions reduce costs and enhance sustainability
Data Privacy
GDPR compliance with data minimization and user consent
AI Fairness
Diverse training datasets and regular bias audits
Expected Outcomes and Impact
Upon completion, Gaslight will deliver a functional validation platform for online content, complete with open-source codebase, comprehensive API documentation, and detailed pilot reports on accuracy and usability. The project will also produce a prototype analytics dashboard and research publications on AI and blockchain applications in misinformation detection.
The societal impact will be significant, reducing the spread of misinformation and enhancing online trust and safety. By simplifying integration with the EU Digital Identity Wallet, the project will drive adoption of this key technology. As an open-source alternative to proprietary systems, Gaslightme.io will contribute to digital sovereignty while fostering innovation through collaboration.
Trusted Information
Enhanced online safety and reduced misinformation
Digital Identity Adoption
Increased use of EU Digital Identity Wallet
Digital Sovereignty
Open-source alternative to proprietary systems
Collaborative Innovation
Community-driven improvements and extensions