HATEDEMICS wraps up, opening new paths against hate and disinformation

In a digital world where hate speech and disinformation spread faster than ever, the HATEDEMICS project marks a significant milestone in the effort of countering them. The project, coordinated by Fondazione Bruno Kessler and funded by The EU as part of the Citizens, Equality, Rights and Values (CERV) program, held its final event at the University of Granada on  March 26, 2026, focusing on how artificial intelligence can be effectively leveraged to curtail the growing spread of online hostility.

By  leveraging  artificial  intelligence  and  human  expertise,  the project  has  developed  innovative  tools  to  monitor,  detect,  and  counter  harmful content across social media platforms, while promoting inclusive and democratic digital spaces.

The  conference  will  showcase  the  main  results  of  the  HATEDEMICS project  and  will  feature  panel  discussions,presentations,  and  interactive  workshops.  It  will  bring  together over 100 delegates –  policymakers,  academics,  civil  society organisations,  technology  professionals,  young  people,  fact-checkers,  and  journalists –  offering  a  unique opportunity  to  exchange  perspectives  and  reflect  on  current  challenges  and  future  strategies  at  European level.

Beyond technology, the conference emphasizes education and citizen engagement; in fact, the project has developed methodologies and tailored training programmes aimed at equipping young people, NGOs, and public authorities with the skills needed to detect threats and respond appropriately.

This is what Marco Guerini, coordinator and head of the LAND unit at the FBK Center for Augmented Intelligence, said: “This project represents a pioneering landmark: for the first time, we are integrating the specialized expertise of fact-checkers and NGO operators into a unified AI framework to combat misinformation and hate speech. This initiative does more than just optimize response strategies through human-machine collaboration; it democratizes critical knowledge, making these sophisticated tools and insights accessible to the general public.”

The conference promises not only insights and innovation but also opportunities for collaboration, ensuring that the tools and knowledge developed within the project continue to generate sustainable impact across Europe.

This commitment does not stop here. Activities will continue and be further developed within the ECLIPSE project, which began last fall and is also coordinated by Marco Guerini. In this new context, counter-narratives will be further refined through personalization based on specific situations and individual users, taking into account emotions, perspectives, and the most effective and empathetic response strategies. The project, which will run for three years and has a broader scope, aims to generate impact both online and offline, engaging an even wider and complementary audience that includes law enforcement actors, policymakers, and civil society organizations.

Hatedemics final conference