UN ICT tools Unite Wave and MAIE receive 2025 Secretary-General Award for combating Mis- and Disinformation
Date: 2026-01-27
By: Nana Appiah Acquaye
The
United Nations Office of Information and Communications Technology has
announced that Unite Wave and the Monitoring and Analysis of the Information
Environment (MAIE) platform have received a 2025 UN Secretary-General Award in
the UN 2.0 category.
The
award recognises the two technology tools under the theme “From Airwaves to
Algorithms: Tackling Mis/Disinformation and Hate Speech in Peacekeeping
Settings,” highlighting their contribution to strengthening the effectiveness
and safety of UN peacekeeping operations.
Unite
Wave and MAIE were developed through collaboration between teams in the
Department of Peace Operations and the Office of Information and Communications
Technology. Unite Wave analyses FM radio broadcasts in dozens of local
languages, providing insights into narratives and information trends within
peacekeeping environments. The MAIE platform applies advanced analytics to
monitor online discourse and identify patterns of inauthentic behaviour across
digital spaces.
Together,
the tools support peacekeeping missions by improving their ability to
anticipate, understand and respond to information-related risks. By enabling
early detection of mis- and disinformation and hate speech, the platforms help
build resilience, enhance situational awareness and reduce the likelihood of
information threats escalating into real-world harm.
The
Secretary-General Award recognises not only the technological innovation behind
Unite Wave and MAIE, but also their broader purpose of protecting civilians and
peacekeepers. UN officials noted that the tools demonstrate how digital
innovation, when aligned with operational needs, can strengthen peacekeeping
outcomes.
The
United Nations congratulated the teams behind the initiatives for their
commitment and contributions to advancing innovation in support of peace and
security operations worldwide.
