[Commlist] Call for papers | II EPEA 2026 — Artificial Intelligence and Political Communication

Call for papers now open

LabCom — Communication Laboratory of the University of Beira Interior 
(UBI) is organising, on 10–11 December 2026, the II EPEA — International 
Seminar “The Public Sphere in the Age of Algorithms”, under the theme 
Artificial Intelligence and Political Communication. The event will take 
place entirely online, via videoconference.

The rapid spread of generative AI — through platforms such as ChatGPT, 
Gemini and Claude — is transforming the practices of political 
communication. Political communication is no longer organised solely 
around traditional media, parties or electoral campaigns: it permeates 
recommendation systems, discursive automation, microtargeting, the viral 
circulation of content and the continuous production of political 
affects. From populism to disinformation, from deepfakes to 
polarisation, from surveillance to platform governance, the II EPEA sets 
out to examine the impact of AI on the public sphere.

Thematic areas

We particularly welcome proposals combining empirical research, 
theoretical reflection and critical analysis on:

• AI, Populism and Authoritarian Leadership

• Algorithmic Literacy and Digital Citizenship

• AI and New Networked Social Movements

• AI, the Public Sphere and the Crisis of Deliberation

• Surveillance, Control and Predictive Policing

• AI, Political Polarisation and Online Radicalisation

• AI Regulation and Platform Governance

• AI, Political Microtargeting and Electoral Communication

• AI and New Forms of Agenda-Setting and Gatekeeping

• Conspiracy Theories and Algorithmic Recommendation

• Hate Speech, Symbolic Violence and Digital Harassment

• Deepfakes, Disinformation and Data Authenticity

• Algorithmic Transparency, Auditing and Accountability

• AI Ethics, Algorithmic Discrimination and Human Rights

How to take part

• Abstracts of up to 350 words (excluding title, keywords and 
references), in Portuguese, English or Spanish.

• Each author may submit up to two proposals. Deadline: 30 September 2026.

• Submission: https://forms.gle/74uycCbZf412greo8 
<https://forms.gle/74uycCbZf412greo8>

• Notification of acceptance: 15 October. Registration and payment: by 
31 October.

• Accepted papers will be published in a book edited by LabCom UBI.

• Registration: €30 (free for LabCom UBI members). The event will be 
streamed live on the LabCom UBI YouTube channel.

Committees, timeline and full information: https://labcom.ubi.pt/epea/ 
<https://labcom.ubi.pt/epea/>

Contact: João Carlos Correia ((jcorreia /at/ ubi.pt) <mailto:(jcorreia /at/ ubi.pt)>) 
· Branco Di Fátima ((brancodifatima /at/ labcom.ubi.pt) 
<mailto:(brancodifatima /at/ labcom.ubi.pt)>)

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