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In an era where misinformation threatens democratic processes, a pioneering youth-led broadcast initiative has emerged to tackle false information during the upcoming Scottish Elections. “Future Proof,” launched March 25, 2026, by the Scottish Youth Film Foundation (SYFF), will feature six young journalists investigating election campaigns through the lens of misinformation, disinformation, and AI-generated content.
The project comes at a critical time when digital manipulation of facts poses unprecedented challenges to electoral integrity and voter engagement across Scotland. The six journalists—Rory Kirkpatrick from Portobello, Emilie from Fort William, Robert from Kiltarlity, Rachel and Santi from Glasgow, and Tom from Kirkcaldy—bring diverse perspectives from across the country.
“As misinformation seems to get more and more prevalent, bringing attention to the truth only becomes more important,” said Rory Kirkpatrick. “I believe we all must adapt to the ways that the spread of misinformation is changing in the age of social media. I’m joining SYFF’s Future Proof newsroom with the aim of helping people stay informed so that they can make decisions based off facts.”
Beginning April 8, the team will broadcast four weekly live shows on YouTube every Tuesday at 6 p.m. until April 29. Each program will investigate misleading claims and fabricated content circulating during the campaign while highlighting issues that matter most to young voters.
Following each broadcast, the team will host companion interactive webinars allowing young people to directly question journalists and engage with expert guests. These sessions aim to support engagement among first-time voters while providing discussion material for schools and educators.
David Barras, co-founder of the Scottish Youth Film Foundation, emphasized the project’s significance: “Future Proof puts young people at the heart of one of the most important conversations in modern democracy – how we recognize truth in an age of misinformation. By giving young journalists the tools to investigate claims and question narratives, we’re helping ensure that the next generation of voters is informed, confident and ready to engage.”
The initiative emerged following discussions on media literacy at the Scottish Parliament’s Festival of Politics in summer 2025. It now aims to elevate youth perspectives on issues that transcend party politics.
The webinars are being delivered with support from Scotland’s Development Education Centres, working collectively on media literacy under Scotland’s International Development Alliance (SIDA). Huw Owen, a former BBC Scotland News Editor and Co-Chair of SIDA’s Education Committee, serves as an advisor to the project.
Owen highlighted the broader implications: “The impact of malicious and careless communication via digital and social media is now having a profound effect on all our lives. Supercharged by AI fakes, it is fuelling polarisation and fear within and between many of our communities in Scotland and beyond. It is a clear threat to civilised debate and long shared democratic values.”
He emphasized that combating disinformation must begin in educational settings: “We need to reaffirm universal values of fairness and tolerance along with up-to-date tools and techniques to actively combat disinformation. This must be an overarching priority for whichever government is elected at Holyrood.”
The initiative brings together several national partners supporting youth participation in democratic debate. Global fact-checking organization Full Fact will provide training to the journalists. Mark Frankel from Full Fact noted: “These elections are taking place against a backdrop of an unprecedented distortion of facts. The public feels ill-equipped to deal with the manipulation of information they see before them and the threat of AI as they see it.”
Additional partners include Young Scot and the Scottish Youth Parliament, whose report “Young People and Politics” has informed the project. The John Smith Centre will contribute guest speakers and provide access to a youth hustings event at St. Giles’ Cathedral in Edinburgh on April 26.
In a political landscape increasingly shaped by digital manipulation, Future Proof represents a significant effort to equip young voters with critical thinking skills while elevating their voices in Scotland’s democratic process. The broadcasts will stream live at 6 p.m. on April 8, 15, 22, and 29, with each followed by interactive webinars open to schools, youth organizations, and young people throughout Scotland.
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10 Comments
It’s encouraging to see a youth-led initiative taking on the challenge of electoral misinformation. Their fresh perspectives and digital savvy could be invaluable in this fight.
Absolutely. Young people are often at the forefront of understanding the evolving landscape of digital communication and manipulation. Their involvement in this project is crucial.
Interesting project to tackle misinformation in Scotland’s upcoming elections. It’s crucial that voters have access to factual information to make informed decisions. I’m curious to see what the young journalists uncover about digital manipulation of election campaigns.
Agreed, misinformation is a growing threat to democratic processes. This youth-led initiative could provide valuable insights and help restore public trust.
While the project’s focus is on the Scottish elections, the issue of misinformation is a global challenge. I’m glad to see young journalists taking the lead on this important work.
Absolutely, we need more efforts like this to combat the spread of false information, which can undermine faith in democratic institutions. Kudos to the SYFF for this initiative.
Tackling misinformation during elections is a critical task. I’m hopeful that the diverse perspectives of the young journalists involved in ‘Future Proof’ will yield meaningful insights and solutions.
Agreed, the project’s emphasis on investigating misinformation through multiple lenses is a promising approach. Equipping voters with the tools to discern fact from fiction is vital.
The Scottish Youth Film Foundation seems to be taking a proactive approach to addressing disinformation. I hope their investigation sheds light on the scale of the problem and potential solutions.
Yes, raising awareness of AI-generated content and other digital manipulation tactics is an important step. Empowering young people to be critical consumers of media is crucial.