The idea seeks not only to store unalterable data, but also to “monetize” that information and journalism

The founder of El País newspaper, Juan Luis Cebrián, The Washington Post, the Associated Press (AP) news agency, and other media are interested in using technology such as blockchain to compare stored data, dates, and avoid fake news.

On October 17th, engineers, journalists, editors and innovators will meet in Madrid, Spain, to exchange ideas related to blockchain and journalism. In a world of data, where hundreds of pieces of information are disseminated on the Internet, corroborating information becomes something vital.

Recover control of digital content, store unaltered data, the dates on which something happened, making it clear who was the first to say something, what happened, how, when and where, would help to check if a story is real or not, if someone already said it before and if it happened like that or not.

That is the difference that blockchain could make; this is because one of its characteristics is precisely to store data in a secure, unalterable and verifiable way in the future.

Therefore, Úrsula O’kuinghttons, of the New York Civil startup, will be present at the meeting with Juan Luis Cebrián. She works with more than 100 newsrooms from different countries of the world that begin to use blockchain technology.

Computers, human beings and artificial intelligence face each other on a battlefield that is just beginning. This could be more frequent due to “deepfakes”, an Artificial Intelligence (AI) program that tricks images and voice notes.

O’kuinghttons knows all about media and new technological trends for the industry.

“The collapse in advertising revenue joins the chaos caused by fake news, which have only worsened the already deteriorated business of the press, stripping thousands of journalists of their work”, said the organizers of the event.

Identity System

In 2018, started the idea of ​​Civil, under the ideal of ConsenSys; this is an international community of journalists and other citizens interested in the area participate in this project.

This platform seeks to build a “trusted network” which is based on a universal identity system in blockchain. There, consumers, publishers and advertisers participate.

One of the characteristics is that it not only helps to store data, but also seeks that people and companies “monetize” the data, stop misinformation and, at the same time, “monetize” journalism.

How Can Bockchain Help?

The block system leaves a trace of traceable information that cannot be changed. It is only possible to “amend” the information, but always leaving a trace of all the changes made. This is how data is protected.

Blockchain works with decentralized storage technologies, which allows protecting, in this case, the originality of each written paragraph.

The added value is that blockchain technology allows not only the exchange of information, but also the exchange of virtual currencies or cryptocurrencies.

On the other hand, smart contracts, which are part of blockchain technology, allow clear agreements to be established between those who wish to send and receive information securely and under the parameters they establish.

In addition, blockchain would allow tracking the mentions online, with the aim of verifying that those who click are real people and not bots.

Blockchain promises to offer much more than only crypto-transactions. For this reason, in the event is expected that participants discuss possible new uses that benefit consumers.

By María Rodríguez

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