EU-Funded Project “Digital Detectives” Launches Fact-Checking Club at the Youth Affairs Agency

EU-Funded Project "Digital Detectives" Launches Fact-Checking Club at the Youth Affairs Agency

Fact-checking clubs are currently being launched at several institutions, including the Youth Affairs Agency, the University of Journalism and Mass Communications, and in Nukus, Karakalpakstan.

25 December 2025. Tashkent, Uzbekistan. Today, within the framework of the EU-funded project "Digital Detectives", the official opening ceremony of the Fact-Checking Club took place at the Youth Affairs Agency of Uzbekistan, with the involvement of the initiative "Qizlar Ovozi" (Voices of Girls).

The event marked an important step in strengthening media literacy and fact-checking capacity among young people in Uzbekistan, while also highlighting the intersection between gender equality and fact-checking. Participants were informed about the objectives and significance of the newly established club and its role in promoting critical thinking, responsible information consumption, and inclusive public discourse.

Discussions and presentations during the opening focused on several key topics, including the importance of fact-checkers' voices in society, the role and responsibilities of a fact-checker, the harmful impact of gender stereotypes, and real-life cases of misinformation at both local and international levels. The programme also explored how fact-checking contributes to positive social change and more informed public debate.

"Disinformation undermines trust in democracy, institutions, and societies as a whole. In today's digital environment, fact-checkers play a crucial role in safeguarding democratic values by verifying information, exposing false narratives, and ensuring that citizens have access to credible and accurate facts. The European Union is proud to support initiatives that empower young people, strengthen media literacy, and promote responsible journalism as part of a whole-of-society approach to countering disinformation."
- Renata Wrobel, Deputy Head of the EU Delegation to Uzbekistan

The event also served as a platform to present the results of the EU-funded project "Digital Sherlocks" (Digital Detectives), implemented by the Factchecknet.uz under Modern Journalism Development Center with the aim of preserving and further developing Uzbekistan's fact-checking ecosystem and fostering a new generation of young fact-checkers and trainers.

Between October and December, as part of the project, a pool of 10 new young fact-checking trainers was prepared, and the network of freelance authors and video contributors was expanded. The project delivered a comprehensive training programme, including a Training of Trainers for young journalists, bloggers, and media-active youth, as well as 10 regional training sessions across the country, reaching 220 participants from universities, schools, and youth centres. In terms of content production, more than 50 fact-checking, debunking, and analytical articles were published, alongside around 20 videos and thematic awareness campaigns addressing issues such as gender equality, HIV, cyberbullying, and disinformation.

Fact-checking clubs are currently being launched at several institutions, including the Youth Affairs Agency (officially inaugurated today), the University of Journalism and Mass Communications, and in Nukus, Karakalpakstan.

By establishing a scalable model that combines an editorial platform, trained trainers, and youth-led clubs, the project has laid the groundwork for sustainable, long-term growth of fact-checking initiatives in Uzbekistan.