Media and information literacy and civic actors to counter disinformation in the age of artificial intelligence: insights from Mexico

Abstract

This article investigates the strategies employed by civil society and academic actors in Mexico to develop media and information literacy (MIL), fact-checking, and digital media observation in response to AI-mediated disinformation during electoral processes. The analysis centers on the case of the fact-checking organization Verificado and the academic monitoring initiatives of the Digital Media Observatory at Tecnológico de Monterrey (OMD-Tec). The study adopts the UNESCO MIL approach as its primary analytical framework, complemented by perspectives from Media Ecology and General Semantics. The article proposes a collaborative model between civil society organizations and universities to address technological and informational challenges in critical contexts, thereby contributing to the sustainability of democratic systems in Latin America. This research situates Latin American MIL experiences within the global information ecosystem, underscoring their significance for rethinking media governance, digital rights, and the cultural dimensions of democracy in the era of artificial intelligence.