Adobe Firefly
InfoCure: Certification for Trustworthy Providers of Digital Health Information
InfoCure is a non-profit initiative dedicated to ensuring the quality of digital health information and curbing the spread of misleading health information. To achieve this, we are developing an international certification system that evaluates health information providers based on structural and process criteria. The certification is designed to help digital platforms, search engines, and AI applications identify trustworthy sources. Our goal is to increase the reach of these sources, making it easier for everyone to access reliable health information.
Quality health information is the cornerstone of informed decision-making and responsible self-care. Yet, the proliferation of digital misinformation is a growing and serious public health threat. To tackle this challenge, the Bertelsmann Stiftung, in partnership with Gesundheit Oesterreich GmbH and the Careum Foundation, is building an internationally scalable solution that addresses the urgent need for a systematic approach to quality assurance in the digital information landscape.
The initiative aims to establish global standards for identifying high-quality information sources and to increase the visibility of science-based information on digital platforms. This will systematically counter misleading and potentially harmful content. InfoCure is a digital certification system that will enable operators of platforms, search engines, chatbots and social networks to more easily and reliably identify trustworthy health information providers.
Bertelsmann Stiftung
Ensuring Transparency and Integrity
The quality of health information depends on a provider's institutional structures, methods, and creation processes. InfoCure therefore evaluates providers through a multi-stage audit using a combination of structural and procedural indica-tors. The assessment goes beyond a simple pass-or-fail model, combining mandatory minimum criteria with optional excellence criteria and valuable background insights. The underlying evaluation system is being developed in collaboration with an international expert commission, the Na-ture Medicine Commission on Quality Health Information for All, which is creating the empirical, internationally adaptable indicator system that will serve as the scientific basis for the certification process.
Multiple Use Cases
Based on a rigorous, independent audit, the Info-Cure certificate will provide detailed information that can be leveraged in multiple ways. It can serve as a prerequisite for inclusion in digital health ecosystems or for the awarding of quality seals. However, its primary focus is on digital platforms, search engines, chatbots, and social networks - the key hubs where people seek health information.
Platform operators can use InfoCure within their algorithms for search rankings and recommendation lists to improve the quality of information, prioritize science-based sources, and boost their visibility. Similarly, the certificate can be used to identify reliable sources for AI training. As AI chatbots increasingly access live online sources, the certificate can play a critical role in the algorithmic selection of content, boosting high-quality health information in the automated responses of these language models.
Global Reach – Local Foundation
In our globally connected digital world, national quality initiatives often have limited impact. For this reason, InfoCure was designed for international reach and scalability from the outset. The initiative is in close dialogue with international partners and multilateral organizations to develop and implement global standards.
However, certifying information providers re-quires a deep understanding of each country's specific context - from legal regulations and the national stakeholder landscape to unique local structures. The InfoCure concept therefore in-cludes national contact points to conduct audits and provide expert guidance. Together, they will form a multilateral consortium of independent organizations that will oversee the system's dynamic evolution and ensure it continuously adapts to changing circumstances and new technologies.
Sustainable and Equitable Financing
InfoCure is a non-profit initiative driven by public interest, not financial gain. Our primary goal is to quickly scale the certification system to achieve the broadest possible impact. This means the certificate must be accessible and affordable for non-profits and smaller private-sector providers. A fully digital certification process and high automation keep costs and effort low for providers. Additionally, a tiered fee model is being devel-oped to accommodate providers' varying financial resources.
Rewarding Quality
There are many ways to counter the rapid spread of online mis- and disinformation, including fact-checking, public education on manipulation techniques, and automated content moderation. Info-Cure complements these efforts with an approach that proactively gives trustworthy information greater visibility and reach.
By digitally labeling certified providers, we are paving the way for verified content to rise to the top of search and recommendation lists on major platforms and to be incorporated into the responses of AI-powered chatbots.
Creating Trust in a Digital World
Empirical data on health literacy worldwide shows that many people struggle to assess the credibility of digital health information. This makes it crucial to create safe digital spaces and enhance the integrity of the information ecosystem. The integrity of health information requires that it is accurate, non-discriminatory, consistent, and freely accessible - all within an open, inclusive information environment built on trust, transparency, and responsible governance. Together, we are committed to building digital in-formation ecosystems that offer users safety, freedom, choice, and reliable information, empowering them to make well-informed, autonomous health decisions.
The German Patient Commissioner to the Federal Government serves as the patron of the InfoCure initiative.
