HackShield in the Bieb: Young Cyber Agents Learn to Recognise Disinformation

As part of Cybersecurity Week in The Hague, primary school pupils became Cyber Agents for the day during HackShield in de Bieb, an interactive quest designed to teach children how to recognise and deal with disinformation.

Through an Augmented Reality (AR) game, pupils from years 7 and 8 learned about disinformation and how to recognise which information they can trust. Working together in small groups, the children explored the library, completed challenges on tablets and searched for answers using different sources, including books and online information.

On a Mission Against Disinformation

During the quest, the young Cyber Agents joined HackShield character Lux on a mission to protect the library from Ignos and his followers, who spread disinformation and try to destroy knowledge.

Using tablets, the children searched the library for hidden magnets. By scanning them, Augmented Reality added digital characters and challenges to their real-world surroundings. The groups then had to find the correct answers to different questions, sometimes by searching through books or using online sources.

The mission required the children to work together. Each group contributed answers towards a shared result, meaning that only by combining their efforts could the Cyber Agents defeat Ignos and save the library from disinformation.

Learning to Think Critically About Information

Behind the game and its storyline are several learning objectives related to media literacy. The activity helps children understand that information can be misleading or deliberately false, recognise tactics used to spread disinformation, search for information through different sources and distinguish between reliable and unreliable information.

This is particularly relevant in an online environment where misleading information can appear in many forms, from online news stories and social media videos to images and messages shared through apps. The quest encourages children to look beyond the first piece of information they encounter and consider where information comes from before deciding whether they can trust it.

Building Digital Resilience from a Young Age

HackShield uses gamification and storytelling to make online safety accessible to children. Rather than only explaining digital risks, children become part of the story themselves as Cyber Agents and put what they learn into practice during the game.

HackShield more broadly aims to help children develop the skills to recognise and respond to online risks, while encouraging them to use their knowledge to contribute to a safer digital environment around them.

By combining play, technology and media literacy, HackShield in the Bieb shows how children can become familiar with digital resilience from a young age. Learning to question information, consult different sources and recognise disinformation gives them practical skills to navigate an increasingly digital world.

HackShield in the Bieb was organised by the Municipality of The Hague, Library of The Hague and HackShield as part of Cybersecurity Week 2026.