By Community Coordinators

Hacks/Hackers Africa recently hosted Computer Science Researcher, Bonaventure Dossou. Dossou was invited to provide an educational talk on ML, AI systems and limited resources to all the Hacks/Hackers interested in software developments, Artificial Intelligence (AI), research and Machine Learning (ML). This session, hosted on 30 May, was attended by 20 Hacks/Hackers.

In his opening speech, Dossou cited that the lack of integration of African languages in AI systems was the motivation behind his research into African languages. He shared an example to support his statement, some of which include the most popular virtual assistants such as Siri and Alexa, who do not support any African language in their systems. Dossou commended Google Translate for making the effort to include 15 African languages into their system. However, ‘this is a big minority compared to the number of languages it supports’, he said.

Increasing access and discoverability of African languages

He then delved into his research of incorporating African languages into Artificial Intelligence (AI). To improve representation he began by investigating where data on African languages can be sourced. He worked with other researchers and developers to collect data (via crowdsourcing) on African languages, to add to the data found on hugging face. This yielded good results, and allowed Dossou and his colleagues to have sufficient data for language modelling and building more Afrocentric languages.

As a result of their success with crowdsourcing data on African languages, the team was able to build a number of databases:

1. MasakhaPOS (POS dataset of 20 languages — ACL 2023)
2. MasakhaNEWS (News dataset of 16 languages — ICLR 2023)
3. AfriSpeech (200hr Pan-African corpus for clinical and general for 120 African accents — TACL 2023)

From this initiative, a new challenge was discovered i.e. the need to increase discoverability of African languages resources. ‘It is one thing to have a lack of data because it doesn’t exist. It is another thing to have a lack of data because you don’t know where to find it, “ he said.

Driven by the need to improve access and discoverability, he worked with a colleague to develop Lanfrica — an african languages repository. He built the first Fon-French dataset for non-french machine translation, at a time when there was none. This then led to more datasets being created and attracting more funding and staff to assist with increasing open access and discoverability of African languages.

According to Dossou, these developments led to the belief that experimenting with methods of teaching English-driven AI systems on African languages to execute tasks was possible. This process he called transfer learning on African languages.

Experimenting with transfer learning on African languages

To test the theory Dossou considered the amount of data needed in a transfer learning setting. This encouraged him and his colleagues to develop the ‘a few thousand translations go a long way! Leveraging pre-trained models for African news translation’ project. For this project, the team focused on ways to translate news from one language to the other combining 2 domains (REL+NEWS) to fine tune the aggression of religious and news domain data.

What this revealed was that innovators do not need great amounts of data. What is needed is a good community of people to produce data for the languages of interest. Several baselines proved that 1000 -2500 sentences are needed (minimum data) to be able to adapt a pre-trained model to a new and specific domain, such as news-powered domains.

Training

There are instances where innovators want to start AI training from scratch to address data scarcity, increase model robustness and ensure generalisation. In such instances, Dossou advised that ‘active learning’ needs to be applied. To apply active learning one can follow the steps below.

Step 1: Start with a small set

Step 2: compare or ‘query’ the small set to a new set that is not labelled. The goal of this is to speed up the learning process when there is a lack of large labelled dataset to practise traditional supervised learning methods on

This is what Dossou applied with the AfroLM project. What this approach revealed was that

1. Active learning is very data-efficient and high performing
2. It is possible to build powerful AI models, yet data-centric and very efficient
3. Multitask learning is very promising for African languages

When closing his talk, Dossou shared that building models that require little data and perform several tasks at the same time, was possible. He cited a number of challenges/ limitations with the Fon language which included

1. Very limited data available for downstream tasks
2. High Morphological complexity
3. Not integrated into any existing major technical system
4. Very few NLP applications are available

However, this did not deter him from crowdsourcing more data and creating open-source adaptable systems.

This was an insightful session where the audience was encouraged to contribute to or create more resources for African languages. This is done to preserve the languages, make them accessible, make them discoverable and challenge their inclusion in tech innovations. ‘We should engage in more community efforts. Lead more Afrocentric research projects. Build and scale AI techniques proper to African languages’, said Dossou. The audience expressed gratitude to Dossou for sharing his work and contribution to the preservation of African languages.

Join Hacks/Hackers today!

Are you interested in how scientists, technologists and journalists can use technology to communicate effectively? Then you are just the Hacks/Hacker we are looking for! Join over 1000 Hacks/Hackers Africa members to get access to ongoing mentorship, global visibility, and professional development.

You can also link up with us on Twitter and Facebook, to stay up-to-date on our exciting chapter activities.

May 2024 Meetup Blog was originally published in Hacks/Hackers Africa on Medium, where people are continuing the conversation by highlighting and responding to this story.

Hacks/Hackers East Africa: Survey Programming using open-source tools (Pt 2)

Oluwafunmito Odefemi returned for the second session on the Kobo ToolBox with Hacks/Hackers East Africa

The Hacks/Hackers East Africa community, represented by 8 members, recently gathered in a virtual meetup for the 2nd in the series of the Kobo ToolBox training with Oluwafunmito Odefemi.

Hosted on 20 February 2024, Odefemi began the session with a recap of the practical session on survey programming using the Kobo ToolBox open-source platform conducted in January 2024. He walked the audience through the process he had mentioned for account creation on the platform, and the benefits of the toolbox to the audience.

Recap- The benefits include, but are not limited to:

1. Data visualisation in storytelling: The Kobo ToolBox assists in data collection, data management and visualising it in chart, maps and dashboards
2. Field reporting and surveys: The toolbox assists journalist in direct field data collection Conduct and Structure Interviews: It assists the journalist in conducting and structured interviews to collect structured data from respondents
3. Fact checking and verification: Assists in designing forms to collect and verify information
4. Election monitoring: Monitoring polling stations, tracking voter turn-out, and gathering election related data.

He commenced with the objective of the session by demonstrating methods of converting complex questions to forms, using an XLS form to add questions to the form, and export data via the Kobo ToolBox API.

1. Adding questions to the form.

In adding questions, the following steps should be used:

1. Select XLS sheet
2. Download the XLS form on your computer
3. Upload form containing survey questions onto the Kobo ToolBox (ensure form already contains question type, choice filters, templates etc). Uploading the form saves the user time as they do not have to create a survey from scratch, manually.
4. Once the file is uploaded you will have to provide a project name and description
5. The final step will be to ‘create a project’, after this the form will then load and display questions in sections format

He also shared ways to add the cascading feature to filter out options based on a user’s previous response. Citing his experience working on Agriculture projects, he created an option to calculate the revenue of sales made from certain agricultural products within the Kobo ToolBox form.

2. Accessing the form on a Mobile Device, the individual will have to open the KoboToolBox App and click the options on the right, settings > server. Then enter the following information.

1. URL:https://kc-eu.kobotoolbox.org/yourusername
2. Click on Get Blank Form. Kobo collect will connect to the server and show a list of all deployed forms
3. Select the form of interest and click on ‘Get selected’
4. Once the form is retrieved, click on Fill Blank Form to submit data

Following this demonstration the audience went through ‘some of the exciting features ’ of the Kobo ToolBox. These included the automating of responses. To activate this one needs to go to the ‘Data > downloads’ on their newly created form and activate the automatic settings then update the form.

In this session attendees learnt how to simplify their Kobo ToolBox experience in their quest to collect and analyse data, in various sectors.

Join Hacks/Hackers Africa to view this skills building session with Oluwafunmito Odefemi

Hacks/Hackers West Africa: Utilising data in combating gender misinformation

‘Gendered misinformation refers to false or misleading information that specifically targets or affects individuals based on their gender identity. It can be done unintentionally (misinformation) or intentionally (disinformation)’. This was the opening statement from Journalist and Fact-checker Chioma Iruke, during her virtual skills building session focusing on ‘Utilising data in combating gender misinformation’, on 28 February 2024.

Addressing an audience of 7, Iruke described some characteristic of gender misinformation as

1. Amplifying existing stereotypes, biases or discrimination e.g. women are weak, men are strong.
2. Targeting a particular gender
3. Limiting opportunities because of certain stereotypes or biases
4. Promoting harassment online and offline

Iruke shared an example citing the case of a newspaper article that circulated in the year 2020, during Covid19 in Nigeria. The article claimed that the Centre for Disease Control (CDC) had instructed all men to shave their beards, to protect themselves from being infected with Covid19.

However, upon fact-checking the article, it was discovered that this instruction was exclusively meant for CDC staff prior to covid, as an internal hygiene measure. This simply demonstrates how misinformation spreads like wildfire especially the unchecked ones.

Another example cited was that of a political female electoral figure in Rwanda who withdrew her place as a presidential running candidate at the elections due to the controversy of her exposed body being shared with the public.

This led to highlighting various ways to monitor mis/dis information which include:

1. Social media monitoring: Crowdtangle is a suggested tool for this activity.
2. Creating a bad actors list:This is described as watching certain accounts to monitor activity.
3. Monitoring the candidates:This involves focusing on social accounts with more than 500 followers to prevent uncontrollable spread of mis/dis information
4. Building a gendered lexicon
5. Key word searches: Using platforms such as Mentionayltics, comparing the context in which certain words were used vs the original meaning of the word

She then demonstrated how her team had built a gendered lexicon during the past elections, as captured in the image below.

Iruke explained how slangs were being manipulated and used in the wrong context to promote disinformation. Her team created the spreadsheet above to monitor which of these words were more or less prevalent during that election.

The role of Mentionalytics in assisting with periodic keyword tracking of mis/disinformation, and its ability to allow an individual download a detailed report for further analysis was shared by Iruke. She also commenced a demo showing the designs her team put together for the gendered lexicon to track keywords, shares and social media mentions for women in politics (as demonstrated in the screenshot below).

Backend of the mentionalytics, illustrating methods of setting up keyword tracking project, by focusing on certain keywords.

The information uploads and displays according to your preferred keyword tracking. In the above demo, there was no location restriction, and this enabled a wider data reach through the use of the keywords inputted.

The image above shows a demonstration of the use of Crowdtangle to track mis/disinformation

The Q&A session commenced with the audience asking Iruke steps a victim of mis/dis information can take to obtain justice? She responded stating that it might take a while for social media apps to take down the unpleasant comments, online bullying etc. But a viable measure is getting a ‘shared partner to advocate for the account to be taken down’ or installing a ‘Botometer’ on your X account to conduct findings to confirm if this is a human generated or a bot generated content person. If discovered to be human content, it is punishable by law and the individual can be sued.

Iruke’s session was informative and practical. It provided the audience with a hands-on experience of how to track mis/disinformation in this digital age. It further equipped the audience with resources to track malicious activity, and shared insight on next steps to obtain justice.

Join Hacks/Hackers today!

Are you interested in how scientists, technologists and journalists can use technology to communicate effectively? Then you are just the Hacks/Hacker we are looking for! Join over 1000 Hacks/Hackers Africa members to get access to ongoing mentorship, global visibility, and professional development.

You can also link up with us on Twitter and Facebook, to stay up-to-date on our exciting chapter activities.

February 2024 Meetup Blog was originally published in Hacks/Hackers Africa on Medium, where people are continuing the conversation by highlighting and responding to this story.

Hacks/Hackers Africa hosts monthly upskilling events for the African community and YOU are always invited.

To commence the year 2024, Hacks/Hackers West Africa hosted a peer-to-peer learning session with Morris Kitana on Introduction to Transformative UX design, and Hacks/Hackers East Africa invited Oluwafunmito Odefemi for a masterclass on Survey programming using Open Source Tools.

Read on to find out how these events unfolded…

West Africa: Introduction to Transformative UX design

In his opening speech, Morris Kitana explained the role of a UX Designer as one that goes beyond creating experiences, to customising or ‘shaping’ user experience with the aim of building trust in the process. This was communicated to the 16 participants who attended the virtual session.

‘As journalists and communicators our task is to figure out how the users feel when they interact with our product’, he said. Furthermore, he stated that it’s the communicators role to understand, define and effectively communicate the product. He then advised communicators to understand the intersection of data and user experience.

A few noteworthy discussions; when a communicator has done thorough background work, has engaged, and interacted with their customer, it improves the designing of the product and ultimately the user experience. The impact of these small considerations becomes evident in the growth of the business.

Designing a customised product

There are a few things to consider when designing a customised product, they include:

Ethical Design: In creating customised experiences ethical design needs to be prioritised to ensure the use of seamless tools that the user understands.

User Data Privacy: In customised experiences user data privacy needs to be prioritised as this shapes secure and trustworthy interactions. Kitana explained how this is one way to build trust with the user. He shared examples comparing the ecommerce and health sector. He stated that in the ecommerce space, personalised product recommendations on their platforms are based on user preferences without compromising user data. While in the health and fitness sector, ethical design must always ensure that while collecting data for personal insights, the app prioritises user consent. As a step further, the app needs to provide transparent privacy policies and encryption methods to safeguard user sensitive health information.

UX Design encompasses the entire user journey, understanding their needs, behaviour and aspirations. By doing this, an organisation places itself to lead in a dynamic and competitive online landscape.

The link between UX Design and Digital Transformation

Kitana gave in depth insights about UX principles and how they contribute significantly to the success of digital transformation initiatives, by ensuring that technological innovations are not only cutting edge but also resonate with the users. He stated an example featuring Netflix’s customer growth strategy, where the company had released one season of a popular series for free, once the season ended customers had to subscribe to watch the other seasons. This strategy, he said, resulted in an increase in user subscription.

‘When you know what your user needs, you can customise the experience for them’, said Kitana. By creating intuitive applications, you increase the subscriber base by understanding customer psychology, he added.

In closing, he shared a number of open source tools that can be used in UX Design. These include:

1. Python-which is used for script analysis,
2. Jamovi -Which is used with free stats, and
3. Adobe Creative Suite- used for graphics, coding and visualisation.

The key takeaways from Kitana’s session were:

1. UX Designs should be ethical and have a strong consideration for data privacy.
2. UX designers or organisations need to lead with the customers feedback or preferences to create seamless, customised experiences.
3. A satisfied customer will most likely be loyal to your product and loyalty translates to customer retention and business growth.

Join Hacks/Hackers today!

East Africa: Survey Programming using Open Source Tools

Six journalists from East Africa joined Oluwafunmito Odefemi on 26 January 2024, for an engaging practical session on survey programming using the KoboToolBox open-source tool. This gave them a glimpse into the world of research within the hour.

Odefemi began his session by taking the audience through the advantages of understanding the KoboToolBox for journalists, these included:

1. Data visualisation in storytelling, the KoboToolBox can assist in collecting data, managing data and visualising it in charts, maps and dashboards

2. It assists with field reporting and surveys, helping the journalist gather data directly from the field

3. It assists the journalist to conduct and structure interviews to collect structured data from respondents

4. Fact checking and verification, assists in designing forms to collect and verify information

5. Election monitoring, monitoring polling stations, track voter turn-out, and gather election related data

After the introduction to the topic, Odefemi proceeded to the practical training session where the audience had to create accounts on the KoboToolBox, to allow them to follow step-by-step on how to use the KoboToolBox.

Step 1- Create an account using https://kf.kobotoolbox.org/accounts/signup/

Here the audience was able to experience the simplicity of the tool which allows you to create an account in seconds.

Step 2- Login to your account

This will give you access to a blank canvas that you can use to create your form.

Step 3- Create a new project

Here the audience could see the simplicity involved in creating a form. Inputting their own sections and customising it to their needs.

Step 4- Add a question to your project

Step 5-Implement ski logic

Step 6-Implement validation on logic

Step 7- Deploy the form for offline and online use

Step 8- View submissions and download data

For step 4–8 Odefemi created a questionnaire that could be completed in 10 minutes, and shared with the audience to navigate. He gave instructions on how the form could be completed online or offline. Furthermore, he shared how the form can be embedded in a website, customised for review or feedback.

Odefemi shared the feature ‘skip logic’ which allows a customised question to appear for some respondents and not for others based on a particular response. The participants were intrigued by this feature. He continued to explain skip logic, saying that as the researcher you add a condition in the backend to ensure that the question only appears for certain responses.

Other interesting features of the KoboToolBox included:

1. Data Tracking: It’s ability to track the data that is coming in, the app then generates reports on the raw data collected

2. Image Uploading: Its ability to upload images through the gallery tab, to be used in your survey

3. Visual Display: Its ability to visually display using a map, where the data is coming from

4. Selective Data Export: Its ability to export selective data, one does not have to export an entire spreadsheet. One can choose the sections they are interested in and export

According to Odefemi, the KoboToolBox allows more flexibility than most survey applications. It simplifies your experience, by allowing for upload to a spreadsheet or file, then it (KoboToolBox) automatically filters sections. Unlike other survey platforms which require you to manually input information or sections.

Furthermore, the KoboToolBox offers cascading features that break down information automatically without being manually inputted e.g ‘with a cascading option you can put a question asking respondents where they live, if they say Nigeria — the survey will narrow it down to states in Nigeria then town etc’, he said.

The audience gained practical knowledge of the application of the KoboToolBox as professionals. The next session in this series will be happening in February where Odefemi will delve deeper into how data can be automatically fed into a reporting tool. This will include a real time data uploading session where the participants get to see how their data upload into the reporting tool.

Until next time…

Opportunities

Cooperative AI Research Grants

The Cooperative AI Foundation is seeking proposals for research projects in Cooperative AI.

Anyone is eligible to apply, and we welcome applications from disciplines outside of computer science.

This call will remain continuously open throughout 2024, and will have four deadlines after which applications will be processed: January 14, March 17, July 28, and October 13.

For more information: https://www.cooperativeai.com/grants/cooperative-ai

Deadline: Revolving

Events

Paradigm Initiative (PIN) will host the Digital Rights and Inclusion Forum in Accra, Ghana

For more information: https://drif.paradigmhq.org/about-drif/

Dates: April 23–25, 2024

Resources

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Are you interested in how scientists, technologists and journalists can use technology to communicate effectively? Then you are just the Hacks/Hacker we are looking for! Join over 1000 Hacks/Hackers Africa members to get access to ongoing mentorship, global visibility, and professional development.

You can also link up with us on Twitter and Facebook, to stay up-to-date on our exciting chapter activities.

January 2024 Meetup Blog was originally published in Hacks/Hackers Africa on Medium, where people are continuing the conversation by highlighting and responding to this story.

Hacks/Hackers East Africa November meetup held on 30 November 2023. This event was facilitated by Gbemisola Esho, a Civic Technologist. The session commenced with a definition of the term “Civic Technologist”. Gbemisola described a Civic technologist as an individual who uses technology to solve social problems. They use their skills in technology, data analysis, and digital tools to address civic challenges, such as issues with democratic processes.

Presenting to an audience of 7 Esho discussed how open data can be ‘deployed’ to serve the public by advocating for transparency and accountability. She further highlighted the importance of data in improving service delivery, a few examples included data on transport, the environment and finance. She stated that open data which can often be found in government portals, national bureau of statistics and research is a free resource that is available to the public.

Addressing Misconceptions

Gbemisola discussed the misconception about open data. It is often said that open data is not reliable data as anyone can ‘temper with it’. She dismissed this, stating that open data is not easily corruptible because ‘someone is always watching’. Any activity on the open data is ‘traceable’ she added. An example of Budgit, a Nigerian non-profit promoting transparency and accountability, recently investigated the budget of a particular state that claimed to have spent 150 million naira on exercise books. Only to uncover, after a thorough investigation, that the textbooks ‘never saw the light of day’, and therefore the said government was reporting on a ghost deliverable to hide corrupt practices.

According to Esho the illustration above addresses how open data is a valuable resource for fact-checking. Since the spending information was publicly available (open data), it offered an opportunity for a comprehensive investigation and fact-checking regarding how 150 million naira

could be allocated solely for school exercise books. Noteworthy advantages of open data also include its capacity to promote engagement and encourage communal efforts.

What then is the connection between civic technology, open data, and democracy? Civic technologists employ open data to address societal issues, fostering accountability, transparency, and amplifying the public voice by scrutinising government actions and systems. Civic technologists play a vital role in safeguarding citizen rights, ensuring that governments genuinely operate ‘by the people, for the people.’ They achieve this through the use of diverse tools to unravel information manipulation, thereby affirming that civic technology plays a pivotal role in establishing a genuine democracy.

The Intersection of journalism and civic technology

An investigation was recently published by Esho titled fishing in the gulf of Guinea , shedding light on the invasion of foreign interference that not only deprives locals of their livelihood but also tarnishes the image of fishing for sustenance. They did this by introducing illegal substance trade and human trafficking into the region. Esho’s article further clarifies the relationship between journalism and civic technology, showcasing her capacity to create an impact by crafting stories that protect citizens’ rights.

She used Grid Arendal and other open data portals such as the Centre for Human Trafficking Research and Outreach as examples of where she found reliable information for her investigation. She uncovered how children were taken from their home under the guise of ‘fishing’ trips and never returned. This investigation generated substantial attention which resulted in the establishment of a ministry for the blue economy

There was an interactive question and answers session. The participants inquired whether Esho was aware of any countries using civic technology as a model to enhance democracy, providing a learning opportunity for others. She cited Nigeria and Kenya as examples, where civic tech is utilised during elections to manage the spread of misinformation. She emphasised that these efforts are a work in progress but significant nonetheless.

In addressing some of the challenges faced by civic technologists, Esho addressed personal security as one major challenge encountered by these professionals as they preferred to be seen not heard.

A key takeaway from this session was, civic technologists exist to hold power to account. However, this is not a task limited to civic tech professionals. Through the existence of open data civilians can act as whistle blowers for corruption and misinformation as well, ensuring that the democratic rights of our society are protected.

Hacks/Hackers West Africa: Data Science and Human Rights in the Digital Age

Senior Manager for Business data insights at Medscheme and Podcaster, Ncumisa Hlapo recently presented at the virtual Hacks/Hackers West Africa November Meetup. Hlapo presented on Data Science and Human Rights in the digital age.

With an active audience of 17 participants from different African countries, Hlapo discussed the role of data analysts in assisting businesses and mankind to uphold human rights in the digital age.

Hlapo commenced her session by describing a data analyst as someone who is responsible for ‘tackling big data’, so that an organisation can make informed decisions. In addition, data analysts assist organisations in ‘predicting’ the future and ultimately play a vital role in strategising the future of an organisation.

According to Hlapo, there has been a significant rise in different data collection methods over the years. This has allowed for interesting approaches in data collection and the protection of human rights. It has also influenced the revolution of the open data environment we see today.

‘Before data science matured we weren’t able to make much changes on climate change. We could only react, not predict. Now we can use satellite devices across the country to predict floods before they happen’, she said. Hlapo then made an illustration citing the floods in KwaZulu-Natal and how meteorologists were able to predict the upcoming floods in time to warn municipalities and residents. This, she proceeded to explain, is one of the opportunities that come with the evolution of data science, and ultimately assists data analysts in upholding human rights.These opportunities improve and protect the human experience.

However, Hlapo explained that with opportunities came counter-opportunities such as how data is being used, processed, transported and shaped. Touching on the rise of AI, she emphasised that companies needed to consider how AI was being programmed, making an example that programming AI to fit the current societal ideals can promote stereotypes. ‘Companies need to consider this and drive the education of how AI is tailored to the human being. She mentioned that controls and regulations need to be placed on how the models are trained. Data scientists need to ensure that they do not ‘infringe on human rights but promote and protect human rights’.

At the conclusion of her session talk it was obvious what has been achieved through the revolution of data science. As a result of data analytics societies now predict instead of react. Humanity can profile certain elements of life better than before.

Furthermore, in this era, data science enables governments and organisations to enhance planning through evidenced data. Ultimately, the influence of data science extends to personalising the human experience. An additional aspect of this impact is its role in monitoring and evaluating government service delivery, as highlighted in key points from Hlapo’s presentation.

The worlds of hackers and journalists are coming together, as reporting goes digital and Internet companies become media empires.Journalists call themselves “hacks,” someone who can churn out words in any situation. Hackers use the digital equivalent of duct tape to whip out code.

Hacker-journalists try to bridge the two worlds. Hacks/Hackers Africa aims to bring all these people together — those who are working to help people make sense of our world. It’s for hackers exploring technologies to filter and visualise information, and for journalists who use technology to find and tell stories. In the age of information overload and collapse of traditional business models for legacy media, their work has become even more crucial.

Code for Africa, the continent’s largest #OpenData and civic technology initiative, recognises this and is spearheading the establishment of a network of HacksHackers chapters across Africa to help bring together pioneers for collaborative projects and new ventures.

Follow Hacks/Hackers Africa on Twitter and Facebook and join the Hacks/Hackers community group today.

Hacks/Hackers East Africa: Civic technology, open data and democracy was originally published in Hacks/Hackers Africa on Medium, where people are continuing the conversation by highlighting and responding to this story.

By Community Coordinators

Dis informed people are the people who share information with the intent to cause harm. Misinformed people do not have accurate information, and spread this misinformation unknowingly. This is the difference between disinformation and misinformation according to the trio of panellists in the Hacks/Hackers International Event, hosted on 12 December 2023. This event was attended by 13 participants who were eager to find out more about The role of a techie in spotting misinformation.

This virtual event was the second Hacks/Hackers International Event, drawing participants from East and West Africa.

Building on the general difference between misinformation and disinformation was iLab’s Deputy Insights Manager, Mitchelle Awuor, who shared a practical example of an aunt sharing a false job link in a family whatsapp group with good intentions but unknowingly spreading misinformation. The aunt’s intentions are good, however she is spreading misinformation unknowingly as the job link is fake. The panel shared that misinformation or disinformation was not a new concept, it was however spreading faster due to technological advancements. According to Journalist and curator Mayowa Tijani, in combating misinformation and disinformation the use of technological tools and strategies have to be implemented. He further stated the burden of responsibility on technologists in the world is kept safe from disinformation.

Combating mis-information and dis/information

Tech enthusiast and journalist David Indeje, discussed the need for techies to develop basic and in-depth tools to help people distinguish if the information is reliable or not. However, to assist in accessing these tools there will need to be an extensive media education drive. Also, building capacity with the media to allow accessibility and ease of use of these tools.

Furthermore, Indeje emphasised the importance of techies advocating for openness and transparency in their workspaces. ‘Techies should be at the forefront to help users recognise and combat misinformation’.

Awuor, highlighted the serious implications of misinformation and disinformation, especially in conflict or war-torn countries. She called for strong collaborations between journalists and techies and recommended using Code For Africa tools for fact-checking.

As a practical way forward the speakers provided tips on how to deal with unwanted fake adverts, which are most common in all online spaces.

1. Take advantage of ad blocker settings
2. Report such advertisement and raise awareness to the public, by providing links to credible sources
3. Practise basic fact-checking, if unsure about an adverts authenticity, forward the link to fact-checking platforms and share within your social network. Although it is challenging to vet every single misinformation or disinformation, the onus is on every member of society to act as micro advocates for rooting out false information.

The takeaway from this session is that there is a role each individual can play in combating misinformation within our own spaces, we can be micro influences of truth. Being part of a diverse community such as Hacks/Hackers opens room for many fruitful collaborations that will benefit the public in fighting misinformation and disinformation.

This was the final community event for the year 2023. Code for Africa would like to thank all the Hacks/Hackers that stayed with us throughout the year. We hope to see you back with us in 2024.

Happy Holidays!

The worlds of hackers and journalists are coming together, as reporting goes digital and Internet companies become media empires.Journalists call themselves “hacks,” someone who can churn out words in any situation. Hackers use the digital equivalent of duct tape to whip out code.

Hacker-journalists try to bridge the two worlds. Hacks/Hackers Africa aims to bring all these people together — those who are working to help people make sense of our world. It’s for hackers exploring technologies to filter and visualise information, and for journalists who use technology to find and tell stories. In the age of information overload and collapse of traditional business models for legacy media, their work has become even more crucial.

Code for Africa, the continent’s largest #OpenData and civic technology initiative, recognises this and is spearheading the establishment of a network of HacksHackers chapters across Africa to help bring together pioneers for collaborative projects and new ventures.

Follow Hacks/Hackers Africa on Twitter and Facebook and join the Hacks/Hackers community group today.

Hacks/Hackers International Event : The role of a techie in spotting misinformation was originally published in Hacks/Hackers Africa on Medium, where people are continuing the conversation by highlighting and responding to this story.

Hacks/Hackers East Africa November meetup held on 30 November 2023. This event was facilitated by Gbemisola Esho, a Civic Technologist. The session commenced with a definition of the term “Civic Technologist”. Gbemisola described a Civic technologist as an individual who uses technology to solve social problems. They use their skills in technology, data analysis, and digital tools to address civic challenges, such as issues with democratic processes.

Presenting to an audience of 7 Esho discussed how open data can be ‘deployed’ to serve the public by advocating for transparency and accountability. She further highlighted the importance of data in improving service delivery, a few examples included data on transport, the environment and finance. She stated that open data which can often be found in government portals, national bureau of statistics and research is a free resource that is available to the public.

Addressing Misconceptions

Gbemisola discussed the misconception about open data. It is often said that open data is not reliable data as anyone can ‘temper with it’. She dismissed this, stating that open data is not easily corruptible because ‘someone is always watching’. Any activity on the open data is ‘traceable’ she added. An example of Budgit, a Nigerian non-profit promoting transparency and accountability, recently investigated the budget of a particular state that claimed to have spent 150 million naira on exercise books. Only to uncover, after a thorough investigation, that the textbooks ‘never saw the light of day’, and therefore the said government was reporting on a ghost deliverable to hide corrupt practices.

According to Esho the illustration above addresses how open data is a valuable resource for fact-checking. Since the spending information was publicly available (open data), it offered an opportunity for a comprehensive investigation and fact-checking regarding how 150 million naira.

could be allocated solely for school exercise books. Noteworthy advantages of open data also include its capacity to promote engagement and encourage communal efforts.

What then is the connection between civic technology, open data, and democracy? Civic technologists employ open data to address societal issues, fostering accountability, transparency, and amplifying the public voice by scrutinising government actions and systems. Civic technologists play a vital role in safeguarding citizen rights, ensuring that governments genuinely operate ‘by the people, for the people.’ They achieve this through the use of diverse tools to unravel information manipulation, thereby affirming that civic technology plays a pivotal role in establishing a genuine democracy.

The Intersection of journalism and civic technology

An investigation was recently published by Esho titled fishing in the gulf of Guinea , shedding light on the invasion of foreign interference that not only deprives locals of their livelihood but also tarnishes the image of fishing for sustenance. They did this by introducing illegal substance trade and human trafficking into the region. Esho’s article further clarifies the relationship between journalism and civic technology, showcasing her capacity to create an impact by crafting stories that protect citizens’ rights.

She used Grid Arendal and other open data portals such as the Centre for Human Trafficking Research and Outreach as examples of where she found reliable information for her investigation. She uncovered how children were taken from their home under the guise of ‘fishing’ trips and never returned. This investigation generated substantial attention which resulted in the establishment of a ministry for the blue economy

There was an interactive question and answers session. The participants inquired whether Esho was aware of any countries using civic technology as a model to enhance democracy, providing a learning opportunity for others. She cited Nigeria and Kenya as examples, where civic tech is utilised during elections to manage the spread of misinformation. She emphasised that these efforts are a work in progress but significant nonetheless.

In addressing some of the challenges faced by civic technologists, Esho addressed personal security as one major challenge encountered by these professionals as they preferred to be seen not heard.

A key takeaway from this session was, civic technologists exist to hold power to account. However, this is not a task limited to civic tech professionals. Through the existence of open data civilians can act as whistle blowers for corruption and misinformation as well, ensuring that the democratic rights of our society are protected.

Hacks/Hackers West Africa: Data Science and Human Rights in the Digital Age

Senior Manager for Business data insights at Medscheme and Podcaster, Ncumisa Hlapo recently presented at the virtual Hacks/Hackers West Africa November Meetup. Hlapo presented on Data Science and Human Rights in the digital age.

With an active audience of 17 participants from different African countries, Hlapo discussed the role of data analysts in assisting businesses and mankind to uphold human rights in the digital age.

Hlapo commenced her session by describing a data analyst as someone who is responsible for ‘tackling big data’, so that an organisation can make informed decisions. In addition, data analysts assist organisations in ‘predicting’ the future and ultimately play a vital role in strategising the future of an organisation.

According to Hlapo, there has been a significant rise in different data collection methods over the years. This has allowed for interesting approaches in data collection and the protection of human rights. It has also influenced the revolution of the open data environment we see today.

‘Before data science matured we weren’t able to make much changes on climate change. We could only react, not predict. Now we can use satellite devices across the country to predict floods before they happen’, she said. Hlapo then made an illustration citing the floods in KwaZulu-Natal and how meteorologists were able to predict the upcoming floods in time to warn municipalities and residents. This, she proceeded to explain, is one of the opportunities that come with the evolution of data science, and ultimately assists data analysts in upholding human rights. These opportunities improve and protect the human experience.

However, Hlapo explained that with opportunities came counter-opportunities such as how data is being used, processed, transported and shaped. Touching on the rise of AI, she emphasised that companies needed to consider how AI was being programmed, making an example that programming AI to fit the current societal ideals can promote stereotypes. ‘Companies need to consider this and drive the education of how AI is tailored to the human being. She mentioned that controls and regulations need to be placed on how the models are trained. Data scientists need to ensure that they do not ‘infringe on human rights but promote and protect human rights’.

At the conclusion of her session talk it was obvious what has been achieved through the revolution of data science. As a result of data analytics societies now predict instead of react. Humanity can profile certain elements of life better than before.

Furthermore, in this era, data science enables governments and organisations to enhance planning through evidenced data. Ultimately, the influence of data science extends to personalising the human experience. An additional aspect of this impact is its role in monitoring and evaluating government service delivery, as highlighted in key points from Hlapo’s presentation

The worlds of hackers and journalists are coming together, as reporting goes digital and Internet companies become media empires.Journalists call themselves “hacks,” someone who can churn out words in any situation. Hackers use the digital equivalent of duct tape to whip out code.

Hacker-journalists try to bridge the two worlds. Hacks/Hackers Africa aims to bring all these people together — those who are working to help people make sense of our world. It’s for hackers exploring technologies to filter and visualise information, and for journalists who use technology to find and tell stories. In the age of information overload and collapse of traditional business models for legacy media, their work has become even more crucial.

Code for Africa, the continent’s largest #OpenData and civic technology initiative, recognises this and is spearheading the establishment of a network of HacksHackers chapters across Africa to help bring together pioneers for collaborative projects and new ventures.

Follow Hacks/Hackers Africa on Twitter and Facebook and join the Hacks/Hackers community group today.

Hacks/Hackers East Africa: Civic technology, open data and democracy was originally published in Hacks/Hackers Africa on Medium, where people are continuing the conversation by highlighting and responding to this story.

On October 19, Hacks/Hackers West Africa had part two of the Relational DataBase Management System (RDBMS) training session with Joseph Dokhare, Data Analyst at Code for Africa. The second session was a build up from the first session held on August 25, which focused on the various components of a database, the history behind RDBMS, and the difference between a spreadsheet and a database.

In this captivating session, Dokhare delved into the world of the Airtable platform, showcasing its potential for enhancing project management and collaboration. Part two of the training session began with Dokhare guiding the 12 enthusiastic participants through a live demonstration of Airtable. The focus was on demonstrating how teams could efficiently structure their projects and collaborate effectively using this versatile platform.

Dokhare started off with an example of how to plan for a project, using the grid view, one of the many view options available. He took the participants on a step-by-step journey, creating project sections that encompassed elements like project title, names, notes, assignees, and status. What set this demonstration apart was Dokhare’s inclusive approach, involving the participants in the creation of project sections and deciding the type of data to be added. Moreover, he highlighted the convenience of importing data from a computer into the “base,” allowing seamless data sharing among project team members.

Dokhare demonstrated to participants that, much like Asana, Airtable allows the team working on a shared project to create notes, add people and assign tasks to them, as well as to give a status update for everyone who is part of the team to see. From an attendee perspective, it was interesting to see how aspects of Asana and Microsoft Excel were almost married into this single tool called Airtable.

Dokhare also emphasised that Airtable offers more than just project management. Users can explore a myriad of functionalities, such as creating forms, calendars, galleries, timelines, and more. What sets Airtable apart from some other tools is its user-friendliness; Dokhare reassured the audience that it is not intimidating or overly complex. This makes it accessible to a wide range of professionals, from event planners to project managers, and the best part is that anyone can create a free account, which is undoubtedly a significant advantage.

For those dealing with sensitive information, Airtable provides a feature to safeguard your data, ensuring the utmost privacy and security. So, what’s the connection between Airtable and RDBMS? Like RDBMS, Airtable enables users to store and organise data in a spreadsheet-like format. It offers powerful features such as relational databases, collaboration tools, and custom views, enhancing its versatility and utility.

In conclusion, what truly stood out during the demonstration was the remarkable ease of use that Airtable brings to the table. Pair that with the ability to create a free account, and you have a high-value product with minimal costs for the end-user. Airtable’s potential for streamlining project management and enhancing collaboration makes it a valuable asset for teams and professionals across various domains. So, if you’re looking for a powerful tool to simplify project management, Airtable might be your answer.

Developing Early Warning Detection Systems

John Ndung’u, CfA’s Investigative Data Analyst, delivered part two of the ‘Developing Early warning detection systems’ talk, at the October Hacks/Hackers virtual meetup. With seven engaged audience members, Ndung’u embarked on a session that would shed light on the crucial subject of identifying and addressing online hate speech and harmful content.

Ndung’u commenced his session with a brief recap of the first part, taking the audience through the underlying reasons for the early monitoring of online hate speech and harmful content. Building on the foundation laid in the previous session, he delved into the Actor Behavior Content (ABC) method, emphasising the significance of discerning the individuals responsible for spreading harmful content (the actors or trolls). Understanding the motives behind their actions and their role in promoting negative counter-narratives is paramount. Ndung’u stressed the importance of vigilant monitoring of these actors by setting up notifications for specific ‘trigger’ languages. This proactive approach enables the identification and reporting of actors or repeat offenders, effectively allowing for the prediction of future activities and mitigating the risk of the next ‘hate’ campaign.

One striking revelation from his talk was the adeptness of actors who promote harmful content. They often disguise themselves as media representatives, and Ndung’u noted a troubling rise in malign actors in Kenya who impersonate the media on social media platforms. “They present themselves as legitimate sources of news, packaging conspiracy theories, overt propaganda, or disinformation as news articles,” he warned. These actions are nothing more than ‘profit-seeking clickbait initiatives,’ which magnify inflammatory or polarising content.

Another concerning tactic employed by these actors to spread hateful content is through (ro)bot armies. These automated bots are harnessed to amplify coordinated campaigns. Ndung’u disclosed that these bots are instrumental in drowning out rational voices or amplifying narratives that undermine or disrupt public discourse in Kenya. He went on to highlight that the bots had succeeded in making genuine yet divisive political conversations trend on social media, contributing to accelerated polarisation.

Wrapping-up his talk Ndung’u shared a number of social media tools that Code for Africa and participants can use to track hate speech and unmask actors behind harmful and misleading content. Some of these include civic signal, whatsapp monitor ‘to monitor for the dark web’, Maltego and Crowd tangle. Ndung’u emphasised that these tools are indispensable in detecting and neutralising weaponised content and the networks amplifying it. He views these tools as powerful instruments capable of withstanding even AI-driven toxic content disseminated by actors and ‘hate’ networks.

A key takeaway from the session was that there are tools and techniques available to empower online users and civic watchdogs in eradicating hateful behaviour, networks and content. Staying informed about technological advancements related to toxic content is in the best interest of users, enabling them to effectively report and deprive these malicious actors of attention. While freedom of expression is a cherished value, online bullying, and smear campaigns represent negative opinions that should not be tolerated or encouraged in the digital landscape. Ndung’u’s insights serve as a beacon of hope in the quest to foster a safer and more respectful online environment.

The worlds of hackers and journalists are coming together, as reporting goes digital and Internet companies become media empires.Journalists call themselves “hacks,” someone who can churn out words in any situation. Hackers use the digital equivalent of duct tape to whip out code.

Hacker-journalists try to bridge the two worlds. Hacks/Hackers Africa aims to bring all these people together — those who are working to help people make sense of our world. It’s for hackers exploring technologies to filter and visualise information, and for journalists who use technology to find and tell stories. In the age of information overload and collapse of traditional business models for legacy media, their work has become even more crucial.

Code for Africa, the continent’s largest #OpenData and civic technology initiative, recognises this and is spearheading the establishment of a network of HacksHackers chapters across Africa to help bring together pioneers for collaborative projects and new ventures.

Follow Hacks/Hackers Africa on Twitter and Facebook and join the Hacks/Hackers community group today.

The Fundamentals of the Airtable Platform was originally published in Hacks/Hackers Africa on Medium, where people are continuing the conversation by highlighting and responding to this story.

On 22 September, Hacks/Hackers Africa invited tech expert Samaila Atsen Bako and Feedshield ambassador Sarah Gowon, to lead the virtual session on Technological developments and its role in enhancing digital security.

Surrounded by an audience of seven, Samaila took the audience through the basics of digital security. He began by explaining that digital security goes beyond the creation of strong passwords. Digital security encompasses various factors from prioritising 2-factor authentication in your digital spaces to practising extra vigilance when navigating the digital space. Extra vigilance extends to keeping track of data privacy developments, cyber attack developments, and antivirus software updates. According to Samaila, these are just a few of the ways that one can protect themselves against unwanted digital security threats.

What anyone online needs to know, says Samaila, is that when new digital security developments or upgrades are introduced, the “hackers” are probably a few steps ahead and have come up with ways to breach these developments. However, this statement should not deter anyone from taking extra precautions, and doing their part to protect themselves against identity theft, fraud, or any unwanted digital security breaches. He specifically cautioned the audience against a virus called ransomware which threatens to publish one’s personal information or block access to it unless a ransom is paid.

Digital security breaches can happen via sms, email, through “free” online subscriptions and recruitment processes. In this digital age, security breaches have even extended to “fishing” in social networks such as Whatsapp, Instagram and Facebook where people are deceived into sharing sensitive information.

Samaila shared with the audience that online attacks are a nightmare for organisations who work online as sensitive information is shared in a cloud, which if hacked can be detrimental to the organisation, the staff and clients. This is why organisations are targeted, because they have a lot to lose if sensitive information is hacked. There is intellectual property, there’s personal information, this is why companies need to structure their data carefully as central servers can get infected. Once infected, ‘it is very difficult to disinfect a cloud’. Therefore, remote companies need to be careful and train their staff on digital security habits, especially with shared clouds.

The session then took a less technical route when Sarah Gowon demonstrated Feedshield to the audience. She took the audience through the application, designed to help users deal with cyber harassment. She explained how users can download reports as proof of cyber harassment, to submit to the platform they are being harassed on. This is another way in which users can enhance their digital security in social spaces.

Some great takeaways shared by the panellists include advising the audience to stream or engage online with anti malware. The audience was told to beware of data privacy attacks by ‘reading up on developments’. And to be careful of websites providing “free” downloadable content. This is in addition to arming oneself with all the digital security hacks shared throughout the session.

The worlds of hackers and journalists are coming together, as reporting goes digital and Internet companies become media empires.Journalists call themselves “hacks,” someone who can churn out words in any situation. Hackers use the digital equivalent of duct tape to whip out code.

Hacker-journalists try to bridge the two worlds. Hacks/Hackers Africa aims to bring all these people together — those who are working to help people make sense of our world. It’s for hackers exploring technologies to filter and visualise information, and for journalists who use technology to find and tell stories. In the age of information overload and collapse of traditional business models for legacy media, their work has become even more crucial.

Code for Africa, the continent’s largest #OpenData and civic technology initiative, recognises this and is spearheading the establishment of a network of HacksHackers chapters across Africa to help bring together pioneers for collaborative projects and new ventures.

Follow Hacks/Hackers Africa on Twitter and Facebook and join the Hacks/Hackers community group today.

Tech shield: Exploring Breakthroughs in Digital Security was originally published in Hacks/Hackers Africa on Medium, where people are continuing the conversation by highlighting and responding to this story.

By Community Coordinators

The Nairobi HackHackers virtual session in August focused on “Digital Watchdogs: An overview of early warning mechanisms in the detection of hate speech and toxic content.” This enlightening session featured John Ndung’u, an Investigative Data Analyst within the iLAB team at CfA (Code for Africa). John’s work primarily involves tracking hate speech, incitement, mapping online disinformation, coordinated inauthentic behaviour, and transnational organised crime. The session shed light on the complexities of information disorder and the crucial role diverse toolsets play in combating it. The HacksHackers East Africa session happened on the 24th of August 2023 and there were 18 participants in total.

John Ndung’u introduced the session by highlighting the pervasive issue of information disorder. He emphasised that “fake news” is not solely the creation of malicious actors deliberately spreading false information. It encompasses a wide range of problems, from innocent mistakes to toxic hate speech aimed at inciting violence. To effectively combat this multifaceted problem, diverse toolsets and strategies are necessary.

During the session, John delved into the concept of hate speech and its various forms. In common language, “hate speech” refers to offensive discourse targeting a group or an individual based on inherent characteristics, such as race, religion, or gender, that may threaten social peace.

Recognising the gravity of the issue, Code for Africa (CfA) has developed a comprehensive 4-pronged approach to combating information manipulation:

1. Debunk Claims: CfA works to verify or debunk claims circulating online, ensuring that misinformation is corrected promptly.
2. Expose Networks: Identifying and exposing the networks behind disinformation campaigns is crucial to understanding their reach and impact.
3. Follow the Money: Tracking the financial aspects of information manipulation helps uncover hidden motives and funding sources.
4. Monitor Narratives: CfA continuously monitors and analyses the narratives surrounding information manipulation, shedding light on evolving strategies.

The speaker noted that effective early detection of online hate speech requires a methodological approach.

Forensic teams at Code for Africa identify potential “bad actors” or systemic weaknesses by conducting tests on both media data and social media data. These tests provide valuable insights into the information environment and reveal the presence of hate speech or toxic content.

One of the key techniques discussed was Trend Analysis. Identifying spikes in certain types of posts is a vital aspect of this approach. A spike in similar posts often indicates the onset of a coordinated hate speech campaign or the spread of toxic content. Analyzing these spikes closely helps pinpoint the key drivers behind sudden increases in such content.

Network Analysis also plays a pivotal role in identifying coordinated harmful behaviour online. CfA employs this technique to analyse the relationships between different users on social media platforms. It helps identify coordinated harmful behaviour, such as online harassment campaigns or the spread of disinformation.

The session also touched upon other critical aspects of hate speech detection, such as the development of lexicons, sentiment analysis, actor watchlists, puppets, and networks, queries creation, and mapping networks.

In conclusion, the Nairobi HackHackers August virtual session provided valuable insights into the world of digital watchdogs. John Ndung’u’s presentation highlighted the multifaceted nature of information disorder and the importance of diverse toolsets in combating it. Attendees learned about the methodological approach, trend analysis, trigger language, network analysis, and other techniques crucial for early detection of hate speech and toxic content online.

The session’s participants came from diverse backgrounds, including journalists, data analysts, and technology enthusiasts, who shared their experiences and perspectives on the evolving challenges of

information manipulation in the digital age. This diversity of voices added depth to the discussion and emphasised the need for collaborative efforts in addressing this critical issue.

The upcoming session promises to delve even deeper into the topic, covering tools for identifying online hate speech, sample cases in Kenya, techniques used to spread hate speech and incitement during elections, counter-messaging efforts, and solutions implemented by CfA partners to tackle disinformation and toxic networks. As digital watchdogs, it is our collective responsibility to stay vigilant and work together to safeguard the integrity of online information.

Intro to Relational Database Management Systems

In his opening talk, Joseph Dokhare described relational database management systems as an organised collection of logically related data. Varying in size, complexity, and use. Dokhare spoke at the virtual Hacks/Hackers monthly meetup on 25 August 2023, surrounded by 18 participants.

A Data Analyst at Code for Africa, Dokhare took the audience through the five major components of a database. These components included Hardware, Software, Data, Procedure, and Database Access language.

Displaying impressive knowledge of the subject, he took on the task of explaining the difference in databases and spreadsheets. Although both are convenient ways of storing data, deciding which one to use depends on how much data can be stored and who has access to the data. He further provided a detailed breakdown of the history of databases, and types of databases.

Preparing to focus on Relational Database Management Systems (RDBMS), Dokhare opened the floor to the community to discuss real-life application of databases. The audience provided examples of Wikipedia, survey to go, Crawtangle, and Jumia.

The speaker used this as a stepping stone to discussing the relational model introduced by E.F Codd, called entity relation model (ER model).

To understand RDBMS you need to understand the ER model. The ER model defines the data elements and relationship for a specified system. It further assists in describing entities, attributes, relationships between data, and building databases quickly.

Dokhare then explained entities as objects, classes, people, or places. Entities are presented through rectangles. Within the entity is an attribute, represented by a circle. A rhombus or diamond describes the relationship between the two.

He then took the audience through how information is displayed, on a RDBMS spreadsheet.

The talk progressed to understanding primary keys and foreign keys. A primary key provides a unique identification to a record. Meanwhile, a foreign key is a primary key in another table. On this note Dokhare had to pause the talk, as a cloud of confusion filled the room.

He moved the audience to Airtable in an attempt to explain this concept. Accessible language and visuals came in handy. He focused on the example of a salary. He pointed out that a salary is an entity. A staff ID is a primary key. The staff ID connects other parts that link to the salary. The foreign key using the salary example, is anything that is not directly related to information about the salary.

It was touch and go as the audience struggled to process the technical information. As a way of properly unpacking this topic, the community requested two additional meetups.

This means there will be a second and third instalment of the talk around RDBMS. The intention of the follow-up talks is to allow ample time to engage with RDBMS, LinkTree, and Airtable. Ensuring that the community is following and participating in the talk.

In this first session, Dokhare shared an introduction to RDBMS. The community is now familiar with this concept and how it relates to databases. Hacks/Hackers West Africa looks forward to hosting Dokhare again, to receive practical guidance on applying RDBMS in the media field.

The worlds of hackers and journalists are coming together, as reporting goes digital and Internet companies become media empires.Journalists call themselves “hacks,” someone who can churn out words in any situation. Hackers use the digital equivalent of duct tape to whip out code.

Hacker-journalists try to bridge the two worlds. Hacks/Hackers Africa aims to bring all these people together — those who are working to help people make sense of our world. It’s for hackers exploring technologies to filter and visualise information, and for journalists who use technology to find and tell stories. In the age of information overload and collapse of traditional business models for legacy media, their work has become even more crucial.

Code for Africa, the continent’s largest #OpenData and civic technology initiative, recognises this and is spearheading the establishment of a network of HacksHackers chapters across Africa to help bring together pioneers for collaborative projects and new ventures.

Follow Hacks/Hackers Africa on Twitter and Facebook and join the Hacks/Hackers community group today.

Digital Watchdogs: Developing early warning detection systems to counter hate speech and toxic… was originally published in Hacks/Hackers Africa on Medium, where people are continuing the conversation by highlighting and responding to this story.

The East Africa HackHackers virtual session for March focused on Social Inclusion and was facilitated by John Cornwell, Susan Waruingi, and Francis Wamwangi from the Umoja na Usawa network. This interactive session marked the first phase of two other sessions.

John introduced the session by defining “social inclusion” and emphasised the importance of creating a fair world for everyone. He then delved deep into various social biases worldwide and their consequences.

During the session, biases were defined as attitudes or stereotypes that unconsciously affect our understanding, actions, and decisions. Everyone has biases activated without conscious awareness based on our assumptions, stereotypes, prejudices, and values.

The speakers noted that bias could be positive or negative, but when mixed with power and privilege, it can create inequitable outcomes for vulnerable people in our society, leading to social injustices and tragedies like the death of George Floyd, who used the three words “I can’t breathe” to express what racism does to its victims.

Attendees learned that among those affected by biases are individuals discriminated against based on gender, sexual orientation, religion, age, disability, race, social-economic class, ethnicity, and geography.

The session’s participants came from diverse backgrounds and shared their experiences of bias, demonstrating that exclusion can happen to anyone to varying degrees.

The upcoming sessions will explore social inclusion, attitudes, and socialisation that forms biases and how given privileges and power can lead to conscious or unconscious discrimination against others.

HacksHackers Nigeria: Leveraging AI for Open Data in Africa

HackHackers Nigeria organised a virtual event to commemorate Open Data Day and discuss the potential of artificial intelligence (AI) in open data. Rose Kwamboka, an award-winning data journalist and data analyst at Code for Africa, was the keynote speaker.

The session emphasised that open data is crucial in contemporary journalism, research, and governance, fostering transparency and accountability and enhancing citizen engagement in decision-making.

Attendees learned about the significance of open data and how to maximise its utilisation. Moreover, AI-based applications such as ChatGPT were explored for use in open data.

Kwamboka provided insights on different AI types, including reactive AI, limited memory AI, theory of mind AI, self-aware AI, and active AI. The speaker stressed that AI has the potential to revolutionise the way we process and utilise open data, resulting in improved decision-making and development outcomes.

The speaker also discussed several AI tools accessible in Africa, including M-tiba and Farmerline. M-tiba is a mobile health wallet enabling users to save and pay for healthcare services. At the same time, Farmerline is a data analytics platform aiding small-scale farmers in accessing crop management, weather patterns, and market price data.

The event highlighted the pivotal role of open data and AI in Africa’s development. With the growing availability of open data, utilising AI tools efficiently and effectively is necessary. By doing so, Africa can create innovative solutions to its unique challenges, enhance governance, and boost economic growth.

The worlds of hackers and journalists are coming together, as reporting goes digital and Internet companies become media empires.

Journalists call themselves “hacks,” someone who can churn out words in any situation. Hackers use the digital equivalent of duct tape to whip out code.

Hacker-journalists try to bridge the two worlds. Hacks/Hackers Africa aims to bring all these people together — those who are working to help people make sense of our world. It’s for hackers exploring technologies to filter and visualise information, and for journalists who use technology to find and tell stories. In the age of information overload and collapse of traditional business models for legacy media, their work has become even more crucial.

Code for Africa, the continent’s largest #OpenData and civic technology initiative, recognises this and is spearheading the establishment of a network of HacksHackers chapters across Africa to help bring together pioneers for collaborative projects and new ventures.

Follow Hacks/Hackers Africa on Twitter and Facebook and join the Hacks/Hackers community group today.

HacksHackers East Africa: The Importance of Embracing Social Inclusion was originally published in Hacks/Hackers Africa on Medium, where people are continuing the conversation by highlighting and responding to this story.