AlgoWatch

ADAPT’s AlgoWatch project presented at Dublin Castle

Vitor Tome — Mon, 12 Oct 2026 19:31:18 +0000

Findings from AlgoWatch and the EU Kids Online network were recently showcased at the Irish Presidency Conference on Online Safety for Children and Young People at Dublin Castle.

Prof. Aphra Kerr (UCD & ADAPT) and Prof. Giovanna Mascheroni (Università Cattolica, Milan) co-led a workshop titled ‘Children and Generative AI: Use, Understanding and Misunderstanding’, examining how minors navigate and perceive emerging AI technologies.

The event launched the EU Kids Online 2026 Survey, presented by Prof. Elisabeth Staksrud and supported locally by Coimisiún na Meán. Surveying 27,000 children across 17 European nations, it offers the most comprehensive study of youth digital practices and risks to date as the network marks its 20th year.

Featuring addresses from European Commissioners Henna Virkkunen and Michael McGrath, alongside youth forum delegates and Irish ministers, the conference preceded the European Commission’s proposed EU Kids Act to regulate online platforms, games, and AI chatbots used by minors.

Nicola Spendlove, Creative community officer with Waterford County Council, Ireland

admin — Mon, 27 Oct 2025 12:07:05 +0000

Nicola Spendlove, Creative community officer with Waterford County Council, at the Waterford Library Staff Training Day, City Hall, Waterford.

Fiona Foskin, Librarian, Ireland

admin — Mon, 27 Oct 2025 12:05:27 +0000

Fiona Foskin, Librarian at the Waterford Library Staff Training Day, City Hall, Waterford.

Keevah Worth, Business and Digital Literacy secondary school teacher, Ireland

admin — Mon, 27 Oct 2025 12:03:48 +0000

Keevah Worth, Business and Digital Literacy secondary school teacher, Scoil Chriost Ri, Portlaoise, at the Portlaoise public library exhibition and student workshop.

Cliona Sheridan, Student, Ireland

admin — Mon, 27 Oct 2025 12:01:45 +0000

Cliona Sheridan, 4th Year BSc student, Dublin City University, at the AI exhibit, European Researcher’s Night, TCD, Dublin.

Richie Shakespeare, Dublin City Council, Ireland

admin — Mon, 27 Oct 2025 11:59:31 +0000

Richie Shakespeare, working for Dublin City Council, part of the Gen AI lab, at the AI exhibit, European Researcher’s Night, TCD, Dublin.

Zhengyu Su, Student, Ireland

admin — Mon, 27 Oct 2025 11:56:51 +0000

Zhengyu Su, 1st year Phd Student, Computer Science, Trinity College Dublin, at the AI exhibit, European Researcher’s Night, TCD, Dublin.

Algowatch Wins Best Media Literacy Initiative for Young People at 2025 MLI Awards

admin — Tue, 14 Oct 2025 04:35:08 +0000

Algowatch project was awarded the Best Media Literacy Initiative for Young People at the annual Media Literacy Ireland (MLI) Awards, held at Virgin Media Studios in Dublin, Ireland.

Judges at the MLI Awards praised the project for its relevance, originality, and impact. They noted that the initiative was particularly timely given the current media landscape, and highlighted its strong combination of depth and reach.

Áine Ní Chaoindealbháin, Managing Director, Virgin Media Television noted how Virgin Media recognises the important role that media literacy plays in strengthening trust in public service media, promoting media pluralism and supporting a flourishing media landscape.

Each winner received a handcrafted trophy by Irish woodcraft artist Cian Magill, symbolising awareness, critical thinking, and the drive to create positive change.

Workshop on Libraries, AI and Misinformation Held in Waterford

admin — Tue, 14 Oct 2025 04:31:55 +0000

Last week, Aphra Kerr and D. Rahiman delivered a workshop titled “The Role of Libraries in a World of AI and Misinformation” to 40 librarians at Waterford City Hall. The session used materials developed through the AlgoWatch project, adapted for the Irish context.

Participants raised concerns about the impact of AI on authors, the role of libraries in supporting students with schoolwork, and the need to improve public literacy. The discussion highlighted the increasing relevance of digital and media literacy in library work.

These themes are part of the Skills for Life programme and the current Public Library Strategy in Ireland, which are active in all 30 local authority library services and funded by the Department of Rural and Community Development and the Gaeltacht.

Final conference debates disinformation and AI in Paris

Vitor Tome — Tue, 30 Sep 2025 22:40:55 +0000

“Disinformation, Gender, and AI: The Power of Media and Information Literacy” was the title of the final conference for the European projects AlgoWatch and GenderED Coalition, which took place in Paris on 29 September 2025.

Hosted by Sorbonne Nouvelle University, the high-level hybrid event was attended by more than 140 participants, including experts, policymakers, and activists from across Europe. A key session, “Algowatch as a new perspective on MIL and AI literacy,” was moderated by Zach Bastick.

The panel featured project experts who shared their insights: Divina Frau-Meigs discussed the effectiveness of AI literacy within a media and information literacy (MIL) framework; Aphra Kerr presented on gamified strategies for MIL; Tamara Kvas shared lessons learned from capacity-building through training; and Vitor Tomé spoke about networking and dissemination to reach larger communities.

The conference served as a launchpad for future action to counter disinformation powered by AI. The results and findings will be transferred to EDMO and other European disinformation hubs, including DE FACTO, IBERIFIER, and IDMO, to benefit other EU countries.