HALL researchers are playing a key role in a major new European Union initiative to combat the rising tide of hate speech and disinformation. Professor Paul Quinn and Renato Sabbadini represented HALL at the kick-off meeting for the ECLIPSE project in Trento, Italy, on 22-23 September 2025.
The three-year, multidisciplinary ECLIPSE project, funded by the Horizon Europe–Cluster 3 program, brings together a consortium of 22 partners from across Europe. Its mission is to develop innovative tools and strategies to tackle the spread of hate speech and mis/disinformation both online and offline.
The project will take a uniquely comprehensive approach by combining advanced AI-based technologies with critical insights from the social, behavioral, criminological, and legal sciences. In collaboration with law enforcement agencies, civil society organizations, and international bodies, the ECLIPSE consortium will:
- Develop advanced tools and effective counter-narratives to debunk false information and combat hateful rhetoric.
- Strengthen public and professional engagement through innovative methods like digital storytelling, gamification, and AR/XR training modules.
- Build societal resilience by equipping citizens and professionals with the skills to identify and critically engage with harmful content.
In this ambitious project, VUB-HALL will serve as the legal and ethics partner, taking a leading role in ensuring the project's integrity and compliance. The group will lead Work Package 7 (WP7), which is dedicated to "Ethics, Data Protection Law & Security." This crucial responsibility involves guiding the consortium through the complex ethical and legal landscape of data protection and digital rights, ensuring that all project outputs are developed and implemented responsibly.
The ECLIPSE project represents a significant step forward in the European fight against information disorders and hate-based violence, positioning cutting-edge technology within a robust ethical and legal framework.
For more information about the ECLIPSE project, please visit the official announcement: https://hall.research.vub.be/projects/eclipse