Afka Digital Institute
Building evidence on digital harm in Somali-speaking spaces.
Afka Digital Institute documents platform accountability, Somali-language moderation, information integrity, AI governance, digital exclusion, and digital rights across Somali online spaces.
Approach
Independent public-interest research.
Afka documents digital harm through Somali-language context, careful evidence, and public reasoning.
01
Independent
Afka is non-partisan and not directed by platforms, state actors, political groups, or commercial interests.
02
Evidence-led
Research is built from documented cases, community context, platform behaviour, and publicly reasoned analysis.
03
Public-interest
The work is designed for researchers, journalists, civil society, policymakers, and Somali-speaking communities affected by digital systems.
Research focus
What Afka studies.
The research agenda is organised around platform systems, Somali-language context, public harm, AI governance and access.
Explore ResearchPlatform Accountability
Examines how major platforms respond to Somali-language harms, enforcement gaps, visibility decisions, takedowns, monetization rules, and appeals.
Somali-Language Moderation
Tracks how Somali language, dialect, slang, political speech, and coded abuse are handled by automated and human moderation systems.
Information Integrity
Studies how false claims, influence networks, political narratives, monetized attention, and crisis information move across Somali digital spaces.
Online Gendered Harm
Documents abuse, harassment, intimidation, image-based threats, and silencing patterns affecting Somali women, journalists, activists, and public figures online.
AI Governance and Language Justice
Looks at how Somali language is represented, excluded, distorted, or under-supported in AI systems, automated tools, and platform safety infrastructure.
Digital Exclusion and Platform Access
Studies who is left out of digital opportunity, including creators, small media actors, civil society groups, and Somali-language users facing payment, verification, reach, or access barriers.
Outputs
What Afka will produce.
Afka will translate documented cases, platform behaviour, and field evidence into research and policy work for public use.
Research Reports
Long-form analysis on platform power, digital harm, Somali-language moderation, AI governance, and the online economy.
Policy Briefs
Concise recommendations for policymakers, regulators, platforms, journalists, and civil society.
Working Notes
Short research notes, early observations, and explainers from Afka's developing evidence base.
Public Resources
Future glossaries, explainers, and practical resources on Somali digital rights, safety, and platform accountability.