Misinformation is systemic
From health rumors that put lives at risk to coordinated election disinfo, false claims destabilize communities. Fact-checkers cannot scale to keep up with every private group chat.
U7+ Challenge: Knowledge Sovereignty & Truth
VAR: Verify All Receipts
A decentralized AI verification engine that empowers citizens to check rumors, claims, and media directly within Telegram and SMS. We provide transparent, source-backed context to build critical media literacy and counter misinformation at the source.
- SDG 16.10
- Public access to information
- SDG 4.7
- Critical media literacy
- Global Reach
- Channel-agnostic core
The Challenge
Empowering citizens in a world of echo chambers.
In closed communication networks, rumors mutate unchecked. VAR answers the U7+ call for universities to act as local anchors by turning academic verification processes into accessible, daily tools. We do not act as an arbiter of truth; instead, we provide a structured method to evaluate claims using all available public, academic, and journalistic context.
Private chats lack public accountability
WhatsApp, Telegram, and Signal forwards bypass search engines and standard browser-based verification tools. Claims spread without context, references, or skepticism.
Verification must reach everyone
Critical thinking shouldn't require a high-end smartphone. VAR supports SMS/USSD gateways and Telegram bots to democratize factual verification across all connectivity levels.
Field Evidence
Tested in Berekuso, engineered for the global community.
By interviewing Ashesi staff, students, and residents in Berekuso, and polling citizens across three continents, we identified a crucial gap: people want to double-check incoming rumors, but the verification process must meet them where they already converse, on any device.
Instant Clarification
Gives users immediate context before a forwarded rumor is accepted as fact.
De-escalation of Panic
Allows verification of health, banking, and crisis updates before they are shared.
Digital Literacy First
Rather than a simple binary verdict, every check educates the user on checking sources.
Universal Ingress
Empowers users of basic feature phones via USSD integrations.
Solution Flow
A transparent pathway from claim to evidence.
Capture
User forwards text, links, or media to the Telegram bot or initiates a USSD check.
Guard
A secure validation gate filters incoming requests to protect privacy and ensure compliance.
Retrieve
Retrieves context from Google Fact Check, Wikipedia, academic databases, and search indexes.
Synthesize
Processes content using redundant large language models to synthesize a balanced, vendor-resilient report.
Empower
Returns structured references, confidence ratings, and source material for user inspection.
Product Demos
See VAR in action.
Watch how VAR processes messages in Telegram and operates over mobile networks via USSD.
Telegram Verification Bot
Learn how users forward claims, links, and documents to the VAR bot and receive structured, source-backed verdicts.
Direct Chat: Search for VerifyAllReceipts_bot or click the badge above to start checking claims.
Add to Groups: Open the bot's profile, click "Add to Group or Channel", and grant message access to let it automatically flag forwarded rumors.
USSD Carrier Integration
Observe the interface for offline verification, routing query responses cleanly to basic feature phones.
*384*70592#
Dial Code: Dial the USSD shortcode *384*70592# on any mobile carrier network (simulated above).
Offline Access: Works without internet connection or smartphones. Simply enter the claim or receipt ID to get instant results.
Live Simulator
Explore the verification interfaces.
Select a scenario to simulate how VAR processes and parses information in real-time across channels.
VAR Telegram Assistant
Online • Interactive verification
VAR USSD Gateway
*384*70592#
Anchor Institution Model
A portable model for universities.
Community Centered
Adapts verification channels directly to local communication habits and interfaces.
Academic Rigor
Leverages research databases and source analysis to replace rumor with citation.
U7+ Portability
Designed as an open, adaptable model that universities globally can deploy for their communities.
Team
The U7+ Student Challenge Team
Students from global partner universities working on local accountability and truth sovereignty.
The Community
Become a Sherlockian.
VAR isn't just an engine; it's a movement towards collective truth. Sherlockians are critical thinkers, fact-checkers, and everyday citizens who refuse to accept rumors at face value.
Seek Clues, Check Receipts
Use the Telegram bot or USSD gateway to verify forwarded claims and search for real, primary evidence.
Empower Your Network
Add @VerifyAllReceipts_bot to your group chats to keep group conversations grounded in citation and evidence.
Shape the VAR Engine
Your feedback directly refines the verification synthesis models, retrieval filters, and interface designs.