Tuesday, October 28, 2025

Fighting misinformation with InfoCure: A new certification system strengthens trust in digital health information

More and more people search online for medical information – but many doubt its reliability. The new InfoCure initiative introduces an international certification system designed to strengthen trust in digital health information and curb the spread of misinformation.

InfoCure, a non-profit initiative led by the Bertelsmann Foundation, is developing a multi-stage audit system that evaluates health information providers based on structural and procedural criteria. The certificate will enable digital platforms, search engines, and AI applications to identify trustworthy sources and increase their reach.

According to a recent forsa survey, 87% of people in Germany search online for medical or health-related information – mainly using search engines (87%) or health portals (54%). At the same time, 59% said they have felt misinformed on social media platforms.

Trust through transparency

The InfoCure certificate ensures quality transparency: certified providers meet binding minimum standards and can demonstrate additional excellence criteria. Platform operators benefit by prioritizing verified sources, thereby improving the overall quality of displayed information.

“Building and maintaining trust has become a key challenge of digital transformation,” says health expert Sebastian Schmidt-Kaehler of the Bertelsmann Foundation. InfoCure complements existing measures such as fact-checking and content regulation by making trustworthy information more visible and amplifying its reach.

Globally connected, locally grounded

To ensure global impact, InfoCure collaborates with international partners including the Austrian National Public Health Institute (Gesundheit Österreich GmbH), the Careum Foundation in Switzerland, and the Nature Medicine Commission Quality Health Information for All. National contact points will conduct local audits and adapt the certification to each country’s legal and structural frameworks.

The certification process is non-profit and accessible: a digital, largely automated system and a tiered fee model ensure that even smaller organizations can participate.

A shared goal

InfoCure aims to create digital spaces where people can find reliable, non-discriminatory, and consistent health information. Because only well-informed individuals can make autonomous and responsible health decisions.

With InfoCure, a system is emerging that rewards quality, promotes transparency, and sustainably strengthens trust in digital health information.