"THE GREATEST ENEMY OF KNOWLEDGE IS NOT IGNORANCE, IT IS THE ILLUSION OF KNOWLEDGE."
Stephen Hawking
THE PROJECT
CERTIFY Community is a collaborative, human-centered fact-checking platform designed to bring clarity and trust to the digital world.
It connects experts and civil society contributors with the broader public to verify, analyze, and contextualize online content in a timely manner, helping communities navigate information with confidence and discernment.
At its core, it functions as an integrated discussion layer—available through both a browser extension and a mobile application—that seamlessly embeds into social media feeds and online articles.
Rather than redirecting users to external fact-checking websites, CERTIFY Community delivers reliable, transparent context exactly where it is needed.
With a single click, users can access expert analysis, confidence ratings, source references, and constructive public dialogue alongside the original content—enabling informed decisions without disrupting the browsing experience.
OUR PRESENT MISSION
CERTIFY Community operates through a dual structure: a non-profit association safeguarding its public-interest mission, and a privately held company responsible for developing and scaling the technology.
Our ambition is to empower communities—particularly younger generations—to navigate today's complex information landscape with critical thinking and responsibility.
In 2026, with the support of a renowned Geneva-based foundation, we launched an educational program in collaboration with the Service écoles-médias (SEM) of the Département de l'instruction publique de l'État de Genève. Titled Aiguiser le Regard ("Sharpening the Eye"), the program is designed for students in their final years of lower secondary education (Cycle d'orientation).
Through an interactive approach, students learn to identify and analyze misinformation by engaging directly with the websites and social media platforms they use daily—developing media literacy, fact-checking skills, and informed judgment in real-world contexts.
The program also equips schools with a comprehensive toolkit—including dedicated software resources, a curated database, and clear implementation guidelines—enabling teachers to implement the methodology autonomously and sustain it over time.
Developed in collaboration with the Service écoles-médias de Genève, the initiative represents a significant milestone for CERTIFY Community, reinforcing public trust and strengthening community engagement.
It marks the beginning of our long-term ambition to establish an independent non-profit foundation dedicated to countering misinformation and fostering a more informed and resilient society for current and future generations in Geneva and beyond.
WHY IT MATTERS
"Misinformation thrives on speed and silence."
CERTIFY Community responds with transparency, collaboration, and shared responsibility. It enables contributors across civil society to assess and clarify online information in a visible and constructive way.
This is not a closed circle of gatekeepers. Teachers, researchers, healthcare professionals, students, retirees, and engaged citizens all have a role to play.
"Anyone with relevant expertise or lived experience can contribute meaningfully."
By promoting contributions from real, identifiable individuals speaking in their own name, the platform fosters trust, accountability, and respectful dialogue, strengthening information through rigorous analysis rather than letting it spread unchecked.
THE STORY BEHIND THE SOLUTION
The CERTIFY Community project originated in 2016 from Fayez Alrafeea's PhD thesis in Information Systems at the University of Geneva. It emerged from the need for a decentralized, independent approach to assessing media credibility—grounded in participation rather than centralized control.
In 2024, Fayez Alrafeea and one of his former thesis supervisors, Basile Zimmermann, co-founded a company of the same name to bring the project to life and scale its impact.
Unlike traditional fact-checking websites, CERTIFY Community is built for integration and interaction. It is more than a verification tool—it is a framework for collective intelligence, where communities engage critically, publicly, and respectfully with information.
CERTIFY Community is developed by a cross-disciplinary team with expertise in software development, information systems, product design, AI, and game design—supported by strong foundations in the humanities, social sciences, linguistics, journalism, and business strategy.
This combination bridges academic research, innovation, and real-world usability—creating a platform that is both practical and transformative.
A VISION WITHIN REACH
We envision a world where knowledge is visible, trust is restored, and individuals can navigate information with confidence.
"Misinformation erodes our ability to connect, deliberate, and act collectively."
CERTIFY Community seeks to help rebuild a digital space where facts are accessible, dialogue is respectful, and knowledge emerges from collaboration rather than distortion.
"This is not about censorship or gatekeeping. It is about connection, credibility, and context."
In a time of growing polarization, CERTIFY Community offers something essential: a shared commitment to clarity, responsibility, and better information.
JOIN US
CERTIFY Community is currently in closed beta, focused on testing, user feedback, and final development.
The public launch is approaching.
If you would like to learn more, stay informed, or become involved, we would be delighted to hear from you.