The AI, Communication & Democracy Lab focuses on how AI and technologies are transforming communication and
democracy. The researchers will tackle specific issues surrounding the use of AI and technologies, such as
ways to improve government and citizens' communication. In addition, they and the various partners in the
lab will think about what tomorrow's communication should look like. To this end, the lab will bring
together fundamental and applied research in law, ethics, communication science, political studies and
computer science.
The communication between government and citizens is a central issue, for citizenship and democracy.
Citizens expect, more and more, to receive relevant information in a timely manner.
They also expect to participate, to be heard and that their opinions and interests are
taken into consideration, in political decision-making processes. Public institutions,
on the other side, are spending a great deal of effort and resources to communicate with
citizens in ever more effective ways.
It is expected that the lab will contribute to improve the communication between citizens and government,
increasing citizen return resulting from public sector communication. Public institutions can aim, this way, to
communicate more effectively and accurately with citizens, in the case of general information about policies,
practices, and procedures, or of specific questions. Moreover, it is also intended to increase the level of
citizen engagement, contributing to bring decision-making processes closer to citizen’s needs and expectations.
Goals
Research on AI and algorithms affect the role, impact and regulation of information and communication.
Improve communication between government and citizens.
Combine practice and theory.
Contributing to bring decision-making processes closer to citizen’s needs and expectations.
Foster government transparency.
Increase citizen trust towards transparency.
Develop transparent AI solutions
Identify the Gap in using AI technologies
About Us
Catarina Ferraz
Master's in Information Management with a specialization in Marketing Intelligence, University of Nova Information Management School (Nova IMS), Lisbon, Portugal
Anthropology graduate by NOVA University of Lisbon - School of Social Sciences and Humanities and MSc
candidate in Information Management at NOVA University of Lisbon - Information Management School
Currently initiating her career in teaching, lecturing and interdisciplinary research. Her main research
interests are Contemporary Culture and Art Studies, Communication Science, Information and Cultural Management,
Political Relations and Innovation Strategy. A motivated and focused researcher who embraces all learning
opportunities.
Darina Vorobeva
Ph.D. in Information Systems Management with a specialization in Data-driven Marketing, University of Nova Information Management School (Nova IMS), Lisbon, Portugal
Darina Vorobeva has BSc in Management from St Petersburg Polytechnic University, Russia, MSc in International
Business in Ljubljana, Slovenia, and then postgraduate in Lisbon, Portugal in Data Science for Marketing
now she is doing a Ph.D. in Information Systems Management with a specialization in Data-driven Marketing at Nova IMS, Lisbon,
Portugal with a research interest in Artificial Intelligence and its adoption by employees and consumers.
Darina also has marketing experience in Russia and China, as well as working for 5 years as a market analyst for 7
different countries in a leading omnichannel, multi-brand, and direct-to-consumer electronic retailer in Central &
Eastern Europe. She is currently working as a researcher on a Bee2Waste Crypto project at NOVA Cidade Urban Analytics
Lab.
Filipe Montargil
Professor, School of Communication and Media Studies (ESCS), Lisbon, Portugal
Coordinator of the master’s degree in Audiovisual and Multimedia, at ESCS, since 2018. External expert and rapporteur
for the European Commission, in the evaluation of Horizon 2020 applications and projects, since 2015
Invited Professor at the Cardinal Stefan Wyszyński University in Warsaw, Poland, in 2016/2017 and 2017/2018.
Director of the Living Lab on Media Content and Platforms (LLMCP) and Vice-President of the Board of ICML - Lisbon
Institute of Communication and Media.
Holds a PhD in Sociology, by the University of Évora, a master’s degree in Communication, Culture and Information
Technology, by ISCTE, and a degree in Sociology, by the same institution.
Google scholar profile
Maria Anastasiadou
Ph.D. in Information Systems Management with a specialization in Data Science and AI, University of Nova Information Management School (Nova IMS), Lisbon, Portugal
Maria Anastasiadou is a PhD student at Nova Information Management School, University Nova in Lisbon in
Information Systems Management with a specialization in Information Technologies, more specifically in the area
of Data science. She has been working as an IT consultant for the past 7 years in governmental related IT
projects, and she holds a first class with honours B.Sc. in Computer Sciences by the University of Hertfordshire,
Hatfield UK and a master’s degree in information management, with a specialization in Information
Systems and Technologies Management from the University of Nova IMS in Lisbon, Portugal.
Google scholar profile
Mijail Naranjo-Zolotov
Professor, University of Nova Information Management School (Nova IMS), Lisbon, Portugal
Mijail Naranjo-Zolotov is a researcher and Assistant Professor at NOVA Information Management School (Nova IMS),
Universidade Nova de Lisboa, Portugal. He holds a PhD degree (2018) in Information Management from a consortium of
three Universities: Universidade NOVA de Lisboa (UNL), University of Münster (WWU), and Universitat Jaume I (UJI).
He holds a master degree in Geospatial Technologies obtained in 2014 from the Nova IMS. His research interests
include e-participation, e-government, technology adoption and diffusion, teleworking, dark side of technology,
and data visualization. He has published articles in several academic journals and conferences, including the
computers in human behavior, information technology & people, future generation computer systems, and government
information quarterly, among others.
Google scholar profile
Paulo Castro
Researcher, Philosophy of Natural Sciences Research Groupc, Center for Philosophy of Sciences of the University of Lisbon (CFCUL), Portugal
Paulo Castro, graduated in Anthropology at
University Nova de Lisboa in 1996. In 2014 he obtained my PhD in Philosophy at the
University Lusófona de Humanidades e Tecnologias, proposing an Epistemology of choice,
related to the existence of free will and the (im)possibility of simulating human
intelligence in AI. In 2015 he joined the Philosophy of Natural Sciences Research
Group, at the Centre for the Philosophy of Sciences of the University of Lisbon,
Portugal (CFCUL), where he is presently a researcher. His main areas of research
are in the Philosophy of Quantum Physics and in the Philosophy of Artificial
Intelligence and Computation, focusing mainly on AI ethics and on the ontology
of algorithmic thought.
Vitor Duarte dos Santos
Professor, University of Nova Information Management School (Nova IMS), Lisbon, Portugal
Vitor Santos, is an Assistant Professor at NOVA Information Management School (NOVA IMS) of Universidade Nova de Lisboa teaching "Information Systems", "Artificial Intelligence“, “Compliers” and ”System Analysis” courses in Computer Science and Information Systems Degrees. Before, he was an invited Professor Trás os Montes e Alto Douro University (UTAD) and Minho University (UM). He integrates several national and international conferences scientific committees and has authored several academic publications. He was an elected member of the Order of Engineers and of APDSI board. He was the Microsoft Portugal Academic Computer Science Program Manager for 8,5 years. Before that he occupied senior management positions at Santander bank companies and has developed Computer Engineering activities for about 15 years.
Vitor Santos holds a PhD. in Science and information and Technology Systems from University of Minho, a B.Sc. in Informatics Engineering from Cocite, a Postgraduate course in Computer Science from Science Faculty of Lisbon University, a M.Sc. in information Systems Science from University of Minho, a D.E.A. from University of Minho and a Computer Specialist title from polytechnic institutes Guarda, Castelo Branco and Viseu.
He is working in a second PhD in Culture Studies at FLUL.
Google scholar profile
Team Publications
Anastasiadou, M., Santos, V. and Montargil, F. (2021), “Which technology to which challenge in democratic governance?
An approach using design science research", Transforming Government: People, Process and Policy. (ISSN: 1750-6166)
https://doi.org/10.1108/TG-03-2020-0045
Naranjo-Zolotov, M., Turel, O., Oliveira, T., & Lascano, J. E. (2021), “Drivers of online social media addiction in the context of public unrest:
A sense of virtual community perspective", Computers in Human Behavior, 121, 106784.(ISSN: 0747-5632)
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.chb.2021.106784
P. Castro. "Three Limitations of Algorithmic Reason: Steering the Human
Mind in the Twenty First Century". Paper presented in 3rd European Conference
on the Impact of Artificial Intelligence and Robotics ECIAIR 2021, Lisbon, 2021.
Wiziack, J. C., & dos Santos, V. M. P. D. (2021), “Evaluating an integrated cognitive competencies model to enhance teachers’
application of technology in large-scale educational contexts", Heliyon, 7(1).
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.heliyon.2021.e05928
Montargil, Filipe, Branco Di Fátima e Cristian Ruiz. (2020), “Building a Web Tracking Browser Information System: The Online Panel as a Research Method in Internet Studies”, in Álvaro Rocha et al. (Eds), Information Technology and Systems. ICITS 2020. Advances in Intelligent Systems and Computing,
vol 1137. Cham (Suíça): Springer, pp. 449-455. (ISBN:978-3-030-40690-5)
https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-40690-5_44
Santos, C., Santos, V., Tavares, A., & Varajão, J. (2020), “Project management in public health: a systematic
literature review on success criteria and factors", Portuguese Journal of Public Health, 38(1), 37-48.
https://doi.org/10.1159/000509531
Silveira, C., Reis, L., Santos, V., & Mamede, H. S. (2020), “Creativity in prototypes design and sustainability:
The case of social organizations", Advances in Science, Technology and Engineering Systems, 5(6), 1237-1243.
https://doi.org/10.25046/AJ0506147
Coelho, S. C. A., & Santos, V. (2019),
“Referencial de utilização das tecnologias de informação para a melhoria da qualidade de vida nas Smart Cities”,
PROELIUM – Revista da Academia Militar, 8(2), 59-82.
Di Fátima, Branco, Filipe Montargil e Sandra Miranda. (2019), “Estudando os comportamentos online:
Premissas e desafios no desenvolvimento de um painel de utilizadores da Internet”, in Texto Livre:
Linguagem e Tecnologia, Vol. 12, n.º 1. Belo Horizonte: Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais,
pp. 123-137. (ISSN 1983-3652)
http://dx.doi.org/10.17851/1983-3652.12.1.123-137
Evans, A. M., Verga Matos, P., & Santos, V. (2019),
“The state as a large-scale aggregator: statist neoliberalism and waste management in Portugal”,
Contemporary Politics, 25(3), 353-372.
https://doi.org/10.1080/13569775.2018.1555784
Montargil, Filipe, Branco Di Fátima, Vitor Rodrigues e Vitor Santos. (2019),
“Medir a Sociedade de Informação: Sistema para um painel online de utilizadores da Internet” in CISTI
(Org.), 14th Iberian Conference on Information Systems and Technologies (CISTI). S/l:
Associação Ibérica de Sistemas e Tecnologias de Informação (AISTI). (ISBN: 978-989-98434-9-3)
https://doi.org/10.23919/CISTI.2019.8760838
Naranjo-Zolotov, M., Oliveira, T., & Casteleyn, S. (2019), “Citizens’ intention to use and recommend e-participation: Drawing upon UTAUT and citizen empowerment”,
Information Technology & People. (ISSN: 0959-3845)
https://doi.org/10.1108/ITP-08-2017-0257
Naranjo-Zolotov, M., Oliveira, T., Cruz-Jesus, F., Martins, J., Gonçalves, R., Branco, F., & Xavier, N. (2019), “Examining social capital and individual motivators to explain the adoption of online citizen participation”,
Future Generation Computer Systems, 92, 302-311(ISSN: 0167-739X)
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.future.2018.09.044
Naranjo-Zolotov, M., Oliveira, T., Casteleyn, S., & Irani, Z. (2019), “Continuous usage of e-participation: The role of the sense of virtual community”,
Government information quarterly, 36(3), 536-545 (ISSN: 0740-624X)
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.giq.2019.05.009
Pires, Patrícia, Filipe Montargil e Cátia Mendonça. (2019),
“Communication in IT adoption: The use of infographics in the case of Citizen Observatories” in APSI (Org.), Atas da 19ª Conferência da Associação Portuguesa de Sistemas de Informação (CAPSI). Lisboa: APSI – Associação Portuguesa de Sistemas de Informação.
https://aisel.aisnet.org/capsi2019/25/
Wiziack, J. C., & Santos, V. D. D. (2019),
“Pedagogia transformadora e o reaprender nas humanidades digitais”,
RISTI - Revista Iberica de Sistemas e Tecnologias de Informacao, (E17), 610-625.
Projects
Our projects are clustered around 9 different themes
Acceptance and adoption of AI, psychological and sociological consequences of technology spread.
Information Systems Management with specialization in Data-driven Marketing: Artificial Intelligence and its adoption by employees and consumers, as well as the fight against unemployment caused by the spread of automation and the consequences of the COVID pandemic, University of Nova Information Management School (Nova IMS), Lisbon, Portugal.
Artificial Intelligence to facilitate citizen participation.
Information Management:
Research on the adoption of Artificial Intelligence (AI) is growing in various areas as education, health, or transport, both in private and public sector. However, one area in the public sector on which research on AI is lacking development is on public (citizen) participation. Citizen participation (online and offline) refers to "the process of engaging citizens through ICTs in policy and decision-making in order to make public administration participatory, inclusive, collaborative and deliberative for intrinsic and instrumental ends" (United Nations, 2014). The idea of this topic is to build a theoretical framework to understand the use of AI to facilitate citizen participation.
Note: Diverse approaches can be used to address this topic: Quantitative, Qualitative (interviews),
literature review, or case studies, University of Nova Information Management School (Nova IMS), Lisbon, Portugal.
Bring the citizens closer to their governments through Chatbots.
Data Science and Business Analytics with specialization in Business Analytics:
Develop and explore Artificial Intelligence strategies to connect government and citizens to make the communication between them faster, simpler and more effective, University of Nova Information Management School (Nova IMS), Lisbon, Portugal.
Democratizing Access to Cultural Assets in Developing Countries and Critical Contexts.
Information Management with a specialization in Marketing Intelligence:
Explore the importance and value of cultural democratization projects and tools in developing countries and critical contexts. Aiming at the design and development of an inclusive framework to aid decision-makers and policymakers in cultural democratization projects, University of Nova Information Management School (Nova IMS), Lisbon, Portugal.
Drivers of AI adoption and implementation in local governments.
Information Management:
The exponentially increasing amounts of data have created ideal scenarios for the use of AI. Many national and local governmental initiatives are already harnessing the power of Artificial Intelligence (AI). However, little research on the topic is addressing the challenges and opportunities of the AI implementation governments. This goal of this research is to identity and describe in detail the challenges, barriers, and drivers of AI adoption and implementation in local governments.
Note: Diverse approaches can be used to address this topic: Quantitative, Qualitative (interviews),
literature review, or case studies, University of Nova Information Management School (Nova IMS), Lisbon, Portugal.
Government Augmented Intelligence - The Use of AI to Improve Citizen Relationship Management.
Information Systems Management with specialization in Knowledge Management and Business Intelligence: Explore how AI can be used to optimise public sector innovation, efficiency, and productivity, while fostering civic participation, by addressing and presenting the potential applications of AI within the public services, University of Nova Information Management School (Nova IMS), Lisbon, Portugal.
Proposing a LOSI scale that assess the use of AI in local governments.
Information Management:
The LOSI (Local Online Services Index) is a scale used by the United Nations to assess the level of development of online services provided by local governments around the world. However, the scale does not takes into account the increasing use of disruptive technologies in local governments, as for instance Artificial Intelligence (AI). In a world with highly digitized citizens, the adoption of AI in local governments will cause a big impact on the society. The main idea of this research study is to propose and evaluate an "upgraded" version of the LOSI scale. The evaluation of the scale can be done visiting the governments websites of Portuguese cities or other countries.
Note: Desk research approach, University of Nova Information Management School (Nova IMS), Lisbon, Portugal.
The dark side of AI use in e-government.
Information Management:
The application of AI raises several ethical questions on autonomous machines and how these machines may have a negative impact on the human jobs. Considering the potential dark side of AI, key ethical principles in AI need to be studied and implemented. This research want to contribute to shed light on the ethical foundations of AI use in the public sector, especially in government.
Note: Diverse approaches can be used to address this topic: Quantitative, Qualitative (interviews),
literature review, or case studies, University of Nova Information Management School (Nova IMS), Lisbon, Portugal.
The Use of AI in Application Interfaces: Determinants of User Trust.
Audiovisual and Multimedia:
Characterize and discuss application interfaces, focused on concepts such as application interfaces
and affective computing. Debate and understand which factors influence users' perception of trust and
transparency when adapted to AI, School of Social Communication, of the Polytechnic Institute of Lisbon,
Portugal.
Philosophy of Artificial Intelligence
Ethics of AI, ontology of algorithmic thought:
The limitations and social impact of what we call algorithmic reason,
both as a computational technique and an ideology, implemented in present culture.
We also interested in the epistemology of AI, namely in the relation between
algorithmic thought and mind and in the possibility of a comprehensive and complete theoretical description of AI to achieve consciousness in non-human agents.
Events
6th of May 14:30h - 18:00h
Seminário de Inteligência Artificial e Democracia
A influência da inteligência artificial e das tecnologias nas relações entre os cidadãos e os governos e, consequentemente, o seu impacto na democracia são o mote para o seminário “Inteligência Artificial e Democracia”, promovido pela Câmara Municipal de Alcochete em parceria com a Universidade Nova de Lisboa, a Escola Superior de Comunicação Social e com o apoio do Omaggio e da Praia do Sal.
Os palestrantes abordarão questões relacionadas com uso das tecnologias de inteligência artificial (IA) enquanto formas de melhorar a interação dos governos com os cidadãos, mas também com o potencial de as prejudicarem, nomeadamente, no sentido de possibilitarem um maior controlo e vigilância por parte de regimes autoritários.
Além disso, o seminário pretende também discutir o futuro: Que desafios se apresentam em termos da pesquisa fundamental e aplicada da utilização de IA em direito, ética, ciência da comunicação, estudos políticos e ciência da computação?
With the aim of creating value, visibility and promoting the
adhesion of new members in a group that is still taking its
first steps in terms of its role in society and academia,
we will put into practice the following lines of action.
Actions to be developed:
Promote reflection on an explicit definition of responsibility
for Artificial Intelligence and Democracy, converging on its regulation.
This definition is intrinsically related to the group's identity
and is a key factor in society's recognition and trust in our work.
Make formal proposals of research topics for MSc and PhD students in
the adequate forums.
Forster the scientific publications in AI & Democracy.
Promotion of monthly meetings focused on the presentation of the
research work carried out by the members, guests or /and on the
discussion of relevant scientific articles.
Launch of commissions and working groups for the development and
submission of applications for research support funds, as well as
commissions to discuss technical thematic areas and other aspects
related to the group's intervention area.
Organization of the AI & Democracy Seminar, which will aim to bring
together the most diverse associations, public entities,
academia to discuss relevant and current topics related with
Artificial Intelligence and Democracy such as the Trust,
Privacy & Data Protection, Surveillance, Algorithms (ML),
Social media and Communications, Transparency, Fairness and Ethics.
Organization of a Summer School on Artificial Intelligence and Democracy.
Identification of national and international communities with concerns
similar to ours in order to better understand the current panorama of
research in AI & Democracy. Establishing closer cooperation with
different higher education institutions. Among other measures,
the intention is to formalize a person who will serve as a contact link,
support for student groups, articulation in the organization of activities,
participation in competitions for funding, or other measures such as
the dissemination of information.
Create dialogue channels with national or international schools, public
entities, business organizations and sector authorities to promote Artificial
Intelligence and Democracy area.
Invest in greater visibility of the group in the media with interventions
on matters of public interest, as well as maintain an active presence in
the official media with topics proposed by the members.
Contact
We would love to work with you? Lets get in touch.