Mário Silva, Professor at DEI, and Danielle Caled, holder of a PhD in Computer Science and Engineering, were distinguished by the Portugal Chapter of the Internet Society.

The award in question, “Best Portuguese Internet Research – Internet Society 2025”, refers to their article published in the International Journal of Communication, titled “The Thin Line Between Conspiracy Theories and Opinion: Why Humans and AI Struggle to Differentiate Them.”

The article examines the issue of detecting “conspiracy theories” on the internet by comparing human-based evaluation approaches, classification tools, and generative artificial intelligence. The work aims to promote a safe and protected internet experience, safeguarding users from misinformation, hate speech, and social fragmentation.

The article is available HERE.