d-FCT (Decentralized Fact-Checking Toolkit): A Cardano-Based Ecosystem for Transparent, Community-Driven Fact Verification

[GENERAL] Name and surname of main applicant

Marcio Moreno

[GENERAL] Are you delivering this project as an individual or as an entity (whether formally incorporated or not)

Entity (Incorporated)

[GENERAL] Please specify how many months you expect your project to last (from 2-12 months)

6

[GENERAL] Please indicate if your proposal has been auto-translated into English from another language

No

[GENERAL] Summarize your solution to the problem (200-character limit including spaces)

d-FCT is a decentralized fact-checking platform leveraging Cardano’s blockchain to promote transparent, community-driven fact verification, incentivizing users with a reputation and reward system.

[GENERAL] Does your project have any dependencies on other organizations, technical or otherwise?

No

[GENERAL] If YES, please describe what the dependency is and why you believe it is essential for your project’s delivery. If NO, please write “No dependencies.”

No dependencies.

[GENERAL] Will your project’s output/s be fully open source?

Yes

[GENERAL] Please provide here more information on the open source status of your project outputs

All the community-driven fact verification (provenance and governance mechanisms) will be open source, including smart contracts, fact evidence provenance, voting processes, etc. will be open source, allowing public access, inspection, and contribution. This code will be available on GitHub under MIT license.

[METADATA] Horizons

DAO

[SOLUTION] Please describe your proposed solution

The d-FCT (Decentralized Fact-Checking Toolkit) platform introduces an approach to structure and support the fact verification process through a decentralized blockchain-based ecosystem. Leveraging smart contracts and tokenomics, d-FCT incentivizes and rewards users for their contributions to the fact-checking process. By incorporating a native $DFCT token, the platform facilitates a dynamic reward system that aligns user incentives with the quality and timeliness of their contributions. Key components of the system include a token distribution model, a scoring system for user contributions, and anti-abuse mechanisms to ensure the integrity and reliability of the information verified. With a focus on decentralization, the platform encourages active community engagement and governance, allowing users to participate in decision-making processes and drive the evolution of the platform. AI technology enhances d-FCT's design by speeding up fact verification, improving accuracy through advanced Machine Learning algorithms, and efficiently managing and structuring large volumes of textual data through language models (LLM). d-FCT’s integration with blockchain ensures scalable and secure operations, providing a resilient infrastructure for the verification of facts.

[IMPACT] Please define the positive impact your project will have on the wider Cardano community

The d-FCT platform aligns perfectly with Cardano’s ethos of decentralization and transparency. By building this fact-checking tool on the Cardano blockchain, we will drive adoption and support trust in the ecosystem. d-FCT's transparent verification process can act as a proof of concept for decentralized governance and provide valuable real-world use cases, ultimately contributing to the broader Cardano community.

Measuring Impact:

• Active user base growth
• Number of verified claims
• Increased community engagement in content validation
• Development of partnerships with media organizations and social platforms

[CAPABILITY & FEASIBILITY] What is your capability to deliver your project with high levels of trust and accountability? How do you intend to validate if your approach is feasible?

Our capability to deliver the project with trust and accountability stems from our team's experience and expertise in both blockchain technology and game development. With a background in research and development at IBM and other well established institutions, we bring a wealth of knowledge in Web3, AI, distributed systems, and multimedia technologies. Our track record includes successfully delivering projects in the Web3 domain, such as the iCOnto ontology and the Internet Computer Analytics Platform (ICAP), funded by W3F grants and DFINITY Foundation, respectively.

For developing the governance and provenance mechanisms, we will employ a phased process, starting with prototyping and testing on Cardano's testnet to validate technical aspects. Specifically, devising smart contracts for Cardano and testing its scalability, while also gathering feedback from users to ensure alignment with the needs and expectations of the community. We will uphold accountability to the community through transparent communication and regular updates. To demonstrate the impact of the solution, we will publish user engagement metrics, including platform usage, tournament participation rates, and community feedback.

[PROJECT MILESTONES] What are the key milestones you need to achieve in order to complete your project successfully?

Milestone 1: Platform Architecture and Smart Contract Design (1 month)  

In this initial phase, we will define the overall platform architecture, including the separation of backend (Python) and frontend (React) components. Key technical aspects include the design of smart contracts on Cardano to handle contribution scoring, reward distribution, and voting mechanisms. We will also create a framework for how users will interact with these contracts, ensuring they are efficient, scalable, and secure. The smart contracts will focus on automating the core functions of the platform, such as data storage, reward allocation, and transaction handling.

Outputs: Report with smart contract designs and platform architecture.

Acceptance Criteria: Report document available on the project Github.

Milestone 2: Develop Provenance Mechanisms (2 months)  

Provenance, or the verification of the origin and history of the content, is crucial for the d-FCT platform. In this milestone, we will smart contracts and backend features to ensure the authenticity and traceability of facts and contributions submitted by users. This will involve creating systems that log each fact submission's history using blockchain immutability, tracking user inputs, votes, and evidence provided for each fact-checked item. Technically, this will use Cardano’s blockchain to ensure transparency and accountability across the verification process.

Outputs: Plutus smart contracts for provenance.

Acceptance Criteria: Smart contracts deployed on Cardano testnet

Milestone 3: Develop Governance Mechanisms (2 months)  

 Governance is a critical part of ensuring d-FCT remains a decentralized, community-driven platform. During this phase, we will implement governance smart contracts and voting mechanisms that allow users to influence key decisions. This includes designing and coding mechanisms that enable users to vote on fact-checking processes, platform rules, and updates to the scoring and reward system. We will also implement a reputation system to weigh votes based on user expertise and contribution history. This governance layer will be fully automated and transparent through the use of Cardano smart contracts.

Outputs: Plutus smart contracts for governance.

Acceptance Criteria: Smart contracts deployed on Cardano testnet

Final Milestone: Integrate and Test Provenance and Governance Mechanisms with Frontend and Backend, and Deploy MVP on Cardano Testnet (1 month)  

In this final phase, we will integrate all mechanisms developed into the frontend and backend systems. The provenance mechanisms will be linked to the fact-checking interface, allowing users to submit and verify facts while tracking content history. The governance functions will be integrated into a user-friendly dashboard, where users can engage in decision-making processes. We will ensure the Python backend communicates seamlessly with the React frontend and the Cardano blockchain for efficient data flow and contract execution. After thorough testing, we will deploy the Minimum Viable Product (MVP) on the Cardano testnet, allowing early adopters and stakeholders to provide feedback for future improvements.

Outputs: dFCT MVP.

Acceptance Criteria: Deployed MVP with fact checking, including provenance and governance capabilities working on https://www.dfc.to

[RESOURCES] Who is in the project team and what are their roles?

The team is composed of the two MOBR Systems co-founders, who will manage and develop the project together.

Dr. Moreno LinkedIn profile: https://linkedin.com/in/marcio-moreno-phd-598a459a/ 

Dr. Brandao LinkedIn profile: https://linkedin.com/in/rafaelrmb/ 

For a complete list of peer-reviewed published papers and granted patents, please visit the following google scholar links

• Marcio Moreno, PhD: https://scholar.google.com/citations?user=PfdmrPUAAAAJ 
• Rafael Brandao, PhD: https://scholar.google.com/citations?user=3ta0InEAAAAJ 

Both are Computer Scientists and are designing and developing the project together.

[BUDGET & COSTS] Please provide a cost breakdown of the proposed work and resources

Conceptual Design: 20,000 ADA

Development Costs: 100,000 ADA

Testing & Deployment: 15,000 ADA

Operational Costs: 15,000 ADA

Milestone 1: Platform architecture and smart contract design (1 month): 25,000 ADA

Milestone 2: Develop provenance mechanisms (2 months): 50,000 ADA

Milestone 3: Develop governance mechanisms (2 months): 50,000 ADA

Final Milestone: Integrate and test mechanisms with frontend and backend and deploy MVP on Cardano testnet (1 month): 25,000 ADA

[VALUE FOR MONEY] How does the cost of the project represent value for money for the Cardano ecosystem?

The requested budget of 150,000 ADA is justified given the scope of the project and the positive impact it will have on both the Cardano ecosystem and the broader fight against misinformation. This is a high-value proposal that will showcase Cardano’s potential to deliver practical decentralized applications that address critical societal issues. 

With your support, d-FCT will demonstrate how blockchain technology can empower communities to combat misinformation transparently and effectively.