Why Verify exists
Verify develops practical systems for helping people make sense of information and use it effectively in decisions that affect their lives and communities.
Information, trust and authority
We live in a world with more information than ever before, yet it is often difficult to establish what is known, what is uncertain, what can be trusted and who should have authority to make decisions.
Verify was established to explore practical solutions to those problems.
The company’s work sits at the intersection of information, technology, verification and democracy. Its focus is not simply on providing more information, but on developing systems that help people make sense of information and use it effectively.
The name Verify reflects that purpose. Verification is not only about deciding whether something is true or false. It can also mean establishing identity, provenance, authority, evidence, agreement and the limits of what is currently known.
These questions become particularly important in democratic systems, where citizens are expected to make choices about complex issues while often having limited access to the information, time and mechanisms needed to participate effectively.
A small organisation with a larger purpose
Verify Pty Ltd currently has no employees.
Its work is led by Thor Prohaska and supported through collaboration with people who contribute their time, knowledge and experience.
A significant part of the present work is occurring through the Lawnton Community Catchups, where a local group is being established around practical democratic participation and the development of Vote4Democracy.
This provides an opportunity to develop and test ideas in a real community rather than only as theory or technology.
Verify does not seek to present itself as a large organisation. At this stage, its principal assets are the body of work developed over many years, the systems and technology now being built, the practical experience behind them, and the people beginning to participate in their development.