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Factchequeado Launches Electopedia and Electobot: New tools to empower Latino communities during the U.S. elections
Factchequeado, the first fact-checking and media literacy organization in the United States focused on combating mis- and disinformation in Spanish, announces the launch of Electopedia and Electobot. These two innovative tools are designed to empower Latino communities with verified information as they navigate the 2024 electoral process.
Electobot is a conversation-based WhatsApp chatbot that answers questions about the U.S. electoral process and provides verified information about political candidates and their statements. Available in Spanish, Electobot directly connects with Latino voters on WhatsApp because it is a platform widely used by this community, according to recent research. By offering clear and accurate real-time answers, Electobot helps combat mis- and disinformation and address questions about the electoral system. This tool ensures that Spanish-speaking Latinos can make informed decisions during the upcoming U.S. elections. Additionally, if users share their location, Electobot provides precise voting location information.
Electopedia is Factchequeado’s website dedicated to detailed information about U.S. elections in both Spanish and English.The aim of offering this special election information site is to protect communities from manipulation and encourage Latinos to participate in the democratic process.
The platform offers key resources such as:
Bilingual articles and videos explaining key topics related to the electoral agenda and the voting process
Educational videos addressing common questions about how to vote, the requirements for voting, and the importance of voting
Direct links to the websites for each state’s secretary of state’s website, detailing deadlines for online, mail-in, and in-person voter registration
Locators for polling stations and drop boxes for mail-in ballots
The importance of the Latino vote, explained through interactive graphics
"We launched these products, centered on the needs of the Hispanic community living in the United States, to better serve them and offer quality information in their language and through the channels they use to stay informed and discuss politics. We want to contribute, through pre-bunking and inoculation strategies, to ensuring that no Latino/ Hispanic person is manipulated with mis- and disinformation and that they have all the information they need to make decisions and vote," said Laura Zommer, CEO and Co-founder of Factchequeado.
Electopedia is supported by The William and Flora Hewlett Foundation through the International Center for Journalists' Disarming Disinformation Program (ICFJ) while Electobot was developed by Mediaplus Experience.
Factchequeado is a non-partisan, non-profit collaborative initiative dedicated to fighting mis- and disinformation affecting Latino and Hispanic communities in the United States. Through fact-checking, media literacy, and civic technology innovation, Factchequeado works with over 100 partners across 23 states and Puerto Rico to close the gap of verified Spanish-language information. The organization’s goal is to empower Spanish-speaking communities and enhance their ability to effectively navigate the media and digital landscape with access to verified information.
With the launch of Electopedia and Electobot, Factchequeado strengthens its commitment to ensuring that Latino voters have the necessary tools to actively and consciously participate in the electoral process, allowing them to contribute to the integrity of democracy in the United States.
For more information about our activities and events, we invite you to visit our website, WhatsApp channel +16468736087, and social media @factchequeado.
