A New Platform Created to Combat Misinformation

The head of the Public Relations and Information Center, Gor Tsarukyan, has presented a new tool called "Stugel.am" aimed at supporting citizens in the fight against misinformation. During an organized discussion, he clarified that the platform allows for the verification and identification of content in various formats.

“We invite you to present our tool, which is designed not only to support the professional community but to aid the public by providing a platform that allows for the verification, identification, and recognition of specific content,” said Tsarukyan.

According to him, the fight against false information must not only be reactive but also preventive. “The battle against misinformation must also have an offensive nature, so that it is possible to not only respond to misinformation but also to prevent it,” he stated.

The director emphasized the importance of media literacy and collaboration with civil society. He noted that civil society partners actively support the improvement of the public's media literacy.

The creation of Stugel.am was carried out as part of the 2024-2026 program aimed at fighting misinformation. Tsarukyan added that the project was implemented with the support of European partners. He also remarked that while critical attitudes toward information have increased among citizens, it was necessary to provide appropriate verification tools.

The platform includes three main functions: verification of texts, images, and videos. Verification of images and videos is performed using modern technologies. “Just as it is possible to create generated images or videos, using the same technologies, it is also possible to verify them to determine whether they are real or not,” he explained.

Gor Tsarukyan also noted that alongside technological development, the platform must be continually updated to recognize content created in new formats. The site will be free and open to everyone. It was created with EU funding and the support of an Estonian company. Tsarukyan emphasized that this is a public good and devoid of commercial purposes, but certain restrictions will be applied to prevent misuse.