On 25 December 2025 in Tashkent, Uzbekistan, the EU-funded project “Digital Detectives” officially launched a Fact-Checking Club at the Youth Affairs Agency of Uzbekistan, in collaboration with the initiative Qizlar Ovozi (Voices of Girls). The opening ceremony marked a significant milestone in efforts to strengthen media literacy and fact-checking capacity among young people, while also highlighting the link between accurate information, gender equality, and inclusive civic participation.
The event introduced participants to the objectives and long-term role of the Fact-Checking Club in promoting critical thinking, responsible information consumption, and constructive public dialogue. It emphasized the importance of empowering youth to actively engage with information ecosystems and contribute to more informed and inclusive public discourse in Uzbekistan.
Discussions during the opening explored the societal role of fact-checkers, their professional responsibilities, and the impact of misinformation on communities. Special attention was given to the harmful effects of gender stereotypes and to real-life examples of misinformation at both local and international levels, illustrating how fact-checking can support positive social change and strengthen democratic engagement.
The event also highlighted the European Union’s commitment to countering disinformation through youth empowerment and media literacy initiatives. EU representatives underscored the critical role of fact-checkers in safeguarding democratic values by verifying information, exposing false narratives, and ensuring public access to reliable and accurate facts in an increasingly digital environment.
In addition, participants were presented with the results of the EU-funded “Digital Sherlocks” initiative implemented by Factchecknet.uz under the Modern Journalism Development Center. The project focuses on preserving and further developing Uzbekistan’s fact-checking ecosystem while nurturing a new generation of young fact-checkers and trainers capable of sustaining these efforts.
Between October and December, the project delivered an extensive capacity-building programme that prepared a group of young fact-checking trainers, expanded networks of freelance authors and video contributors, and conducted regional training sessions across the country. These activities reached hundreds of students, journalists, bloggers, and media-active youth from universities, schools, and youth centres, alongside the production of fact-checking articles, videos, and awareness campaigns on key social issues.
With fact-checking clubs now being established at multiple institutions, including the Youth Affairs Agency, the University of Journalism and Mass Communications, and in Nukus, Karakalpakstan, the project has created a scalable and sustainable model. By combining editorial platforms, trained trainers, and youth-led clubs, “Digital Detectives” has laid a strong foundation for the long-term growth of fact-checking and media literacy initiatives in Uzbekistan.
