This Local Action was implemented in Estonia by Eesti Kodanikumeedia Kool. It targeted a broad audience, including citizens interested in political transparency. The platform and virtual assistant provide multilingual information and consultations, helping users navigate political promises. Two promotional videos were created, and media interviews were conducted to support transparency and awareness goals.
The Sõna ja Tegu (Word and Action) platform serves not only the citizens of Estonia but also those from other countries, including national and linguistic minorities who call Estonia home. This platform’s inclusive, multilingual design ensures that Estonian residents, regardless of nationality or native language, can access verified information on political promises and government accountability.
Technology and Tools
AI and automation were essential, enabling efficient data monitoring and filtering of misinformation.
Our products are available on Sõna ja Tegu website for free:
Tegude radar (Action Radar’s) that sums up all promises detected by the engine and proving options to search and filter it by topics, responsible persons, dates, etc.: https://sonajategu.ee/radar
Source code for the Sõna ja Tegu monitoring system is available publicly on Github under GNU AGPL license and open for contributions: https://github.com/sonajategu/monitor
Election Assistant for the 2024 European Parliament Elections: https://sonajategu.ee/assistent/
Challenges Faced
With limited funding, the project became a significant investment in fostering an informed and cohesive society, reflecting Estonia's democratic values. Volunteers from the civic organization dedicated countless hours to building and promoting this platform, driven by a shared vision of transparency and inclusivity. Their efforts extended beyond technical work, reaching into the community to engage audiences that often feel left out of mainstream political discourse.
Each dollar was strategically allocated, from maintaining server and AI processing costs to creating content tailored for diverse linguistic groups. This platform is a testament to Estonia’s commitment to a democratic society that embraces all its residents, demonstrating how, with minimal resources and dedicated volunteer efforts, it is possible to create a tool that empowers an informed, united, and diverse community.
A major challenge was integrating data from various sources, which required significant effort to ensure data credibility and accuracy. We worked on ensuring data accuracy when aggregating information from the source, which had a different structure and purpose. The AI has been a great help in the resolution of most of the inconsistencies.
Achievements and Impact
The project received recognition from Emakeele Selts for its clear and impactful title, emphasizing the goal to link “word and deed.” This drew public attention to our initiative.
The platform has become popular and widely used for analyzing promises made during the European Parliament elections.
Sõna ja Tegu has proven to be a crucial tool for promoting political transparency and accountability, demonstrating the potential of technology in empowering citizens with reliable information.
Author: Eesti Kodanikumeedia Kool