Addressing the impact of artificial intelligence, cyberviolence, and deepfakes on equality, democracy and inclusive societies

Di cosa tratta questo bando?

The topic funds interdisciplinary research on how artificial intelligence, deepfakes and cyberviolence affect equality, democracy and social inclusion, and on tools and policies to counter these harms. Addressing these challenges calls for combining expertise from computer science and the social sciences and humanities with the practical perspectives of those shaping AI technologies.

Cosa finanzia questo bando?

Scope

The topic addresses both the malicious use of AI, such as AI-generated disinformation, deepfakes and cyberviolence, and its unintended societal effects, such as algorithmic opacity and amplified bias. Research should examine how AI-driven technologies worsen or reduce inequalities based on sex, gender, sexual orientation, racial or ethnic background, religion or belief, age and disability, and the risks they pose to democratic integrity, public opinion and elections.

Research areas

• How AI may be misused in political campaigns, media narratives and gendered disinformation, and how AI-generated content, including entertainment media, shapes opinion, stereotypes and civic engagement.
• How cyberviolence, including harassment, cyberbullying, deepfakes, deep nudes and AI-driven sextortion, is amplified, which groups are most affected, and interventions to prevent it.
• Policies and practices that address AI challenges, taking into account the EU Regulation on artificial intelligence, and best practices for ethical deployment and AI literacy.
• The influence of AI on policy and judicial decisions, and its use by and impact on young people.
• Inclusive tools and methods for detecting and mitigating deepfakes, disinformation and AI-facilitated cyberviolence, designed for policymakers, technology developers, media organisations and the public.

Approach

Research should be interdisciplinary and data-driven, combining computer science with social sciences and humanities such as media studies, ethics, law, political science, sociology, psychology and gender studies, as well as practitioners who shape AI technologies. Selected projects are encouraged to collaborate with the Joint Research Centre on innovations in public governance.

Expected outcomes

Better understanding of the impact of AI on equality and democracy, uptake of policy frameworks for trustworthy AI governance, greater public awareness and media literacy, and stronger capacity of academic institutions for societally relevant AI research through academia-industry collaboration.

Further expectations

• Proposals are encouraged to explore collaboration with other relevant EU-funded projects.

Quando scade il bando?

23 settembre 2027 (322 giorni)

23 September 2027 (single-stage). The planned opening date is 13 May 2027.