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MPMedia PublicsAfrican Media and Publics Research Institute
Working Paper

Synthetic stigma: a framework for studying AI-enabled disability disinformation in African digital publics

A conceptual working paper on AI, disability stigma and digital publics.

Introduces a research framework for examining how synthetic content can reproduce stigma, exploit stereotypes and shape public attitudes toward persons with disabilities.

This working paper develops a framework for studying AI-enabled disability disinformation in African digital publics.

It treats synthetic stigma as a communication risk produced through generated text, images, audio, and platform circulation patterns that may intensify older stereotypes while appearing new or anonymous.

The paper links disability representation, platform governance and information disorder to a research agenda for African digital publics.