Organizing Across Borders
The Data Labelers Association is developing mutual support structures and fighting for better working conditions. This inquiry recounts our path to founding it and acknowledges our ongoing partnership with the Data Workers‘ Inquiry.
by Joan Kinyua
My Name is Joan Kinyua, I am a data labeler, organizer and president of the Data Labelers Association (DLA). We are a group of workers in Kenya who, confronted with poor working conditions and systemic neglect, organized to voice our interests, defend our rights, and create a different path for the AI industry. The Data Labelers Association (DLA) is formed by a group of data annotators in Kenya who, confronted with poor working conditions and systemic neglect, organized to voice their interests, defend their rights, and create a different path for the AI industry. Besides collectively advocating for better conditions and labor rights, DLA’s goals include recognizing a significant knowledge gap about the nature of their work and the challenges they face. As a result, DLA has become proactive in various spaces—raising awareness about the work itself, the toxic environments it often involves, and the broader challenges workers encounter. We actively participate in policy and legislative discussions, offering input on what effective and just policies should look like. DLA serves as a direct link between all key stakeholders: the workers, legislators, big tech companies, and the government. At a time when AI is reshaping economies and labor markets globally, DLA is an autonomous, worker-led association claiming space and advocating for data workers‘ rights to shape new paths for the industry.
Our mission to support workers includes:
- Policy and Advocacy: Amplifying the voices of data workers in legislative and policy spaces to ensure fair labor practices and legal protections.
- Mental Health Workshops: Providing safe, supportive environments for members to address stress, burnout, and emotional well-being through guided workshops.
- Civic Education, Mentorship, and Sensitization: Raising awareness of rights, nurturing leadership, and building political and social consciousness among data workers.
- Reskilling and Upskilling: Equipping members with new skills and competencies to adapt, grow, and thrive in the rapidly changing landscape of digital and AI-related work
- Litigation Support: Offering legal assistance and pursuing justice for workers who have faced violations, exploitation, or other forms of injustice in the course of their labor.
Solidarity Across Borders: From Essen to Nairobi
There was a workshop in Nairobi, Kenya, in August 2024, organized by both German and Kenyan content moderators who came together because of their shared challenges and issues in the workplace. We were invited to attend and take part in interactive sessions that allowed for open dialogue and exchange.
During these conversations, we were especially struck by the experiences of the Essen workers (their inquiry with the DWI). They were highly organized and had achieved tangible wins that directly improved their working conditions. For example, they had successfully negotiated and obtained breaks away from the screen to prevent burnout, and had even secured specialized eyewear to reduce eye strain from prolonged screen exposure. We were in awe of these accomplishments and deeply inspired by how practical and worker-centered their gains were.
This encounter left us motivated to replicate even a fraction of their success. It became clear to us that in order to begin advocating for similar improvements, we needed to take the first crucial step: to formalize our organization in a way that was legally recognized. And so we did. Throughout that entire journey, we remained in close communication with the German workers’ council, drawing on their guidance and solidarity. Their strategic guidance based on what they had learned and true, hands-on solidarity helped shape our vision of building a structured, rights-aware, and resilient network of workers, and it gave us the courage to take bold, concrete steps toward it. Their solidarity was also present during our launch event, in the form of a short pre-recorded message:
We also had amazing support from Siasa Place. They played a key role in the founding and shaping of the Data Labelers Association. They were our very first stakeholders who truly held our hands, offering both guidance and strategic support. They placed us in critical spaces where conversations about tech workers were taking place – rooms we would not have accessed on our own at that early stage. Beyond that, they have consistently mentored us, helping us grow our political consciousness and organizational strength.
We also owe a lot to Mercy Mutemi from Foxglove. She was instrumental in sensitizing us about our rights, not just as workers, but as human beings entitled to dignity and protection. Her insights on labor rights and the broader human rights framework helped us understand our struggle within a global context. Together, their support laid the foundation for the work we continue to do today.
Our supporters in Germany also put us in contact with the Data Workers’ Inquiry team, who joined our regular meetings leading up to the launch. Their insights quickly became foundational to our thinking. What started as planning sessions grew into powerful conversations that deepened our understanding of data work and its broader political context. Through these interactions, we were introduced to the concept of the workers‘ inquiry, which immediately resonated with us. It was both exciting and affirming to realize that they had been thinking deeply about the nature of data labor long before we entered the space.
We felt an immediate sense of alignment and purpose, like we were stepping into a movement already in motion. That moment gave us both clarity and confidence as we continued building the DLA with a deeper connection to the global conversations around AI, labor, and justice.
Continuing the conversation: DWI members join the DLA Biweekly Meeting
The Foundations of the Data Labelers Association
1. Shared Frustrations Became a Collective Voice
Before DLA was formalized, many data labelers were already having informal conversations sharing experiences about low pay, lack of recognition, and the invisibility of their labor in the AI pipeline. It was solidarity, workers recognizing themselves in each other’s struggles that turned isolated frustrations into a collective voice.
2. Building Trust Through Regular Connection
In the beginning, trust was everything. Workers came together not just out of shared grievances, but through regular meetings where listening, mutual respect, and care created a sense of community. These spaces allowed people to speak freely, which was essential in contexts where fear of retaliation or job insecurity loomed large.
3. A Bottom-Up Organizing Approach
Solidarity shaped the structure of the DLA from day one. Instead of being imposed from above, the association emerged from the ground up, workers organizing themselves, setting their own priorities, and defining what representation should look like in an industry that often renders them invisible.
4. Cross-Company Unity
Perhaps one of the most powerful expressions of solidarity was how workers across different platforms came together. Despite different contracts, locations, and languages, there was a deep recognition that the core issues were shared. This cross-boundary connection helped transform DLA from a small group into a broader organizing effort.
Launching the Data Labelers Association
The Data Labelers Association was officially launched on February 13th, 2025, under the theme “Empowering the People Powering AI.” This theme captured the heart of our mission: to recognize and uplift the human labor that drives artificial intelligence.
Our objective was and continues to be, to let the world know that AI does not exist on its own. Behind every algorithm, every dataset, and every technological advancement, there is invisible labor: workers whose contributions are essential but too often overlooked. With the launch of the DLA, we stood up to say: we are here, and we exist. Our work matters, and it’s time the world acknowledges the people powering AI from behind the scenes.
As this was our first-ever public advocacy effort, the launch of the Data Labelers Association on February 13th, 2025, was a big and emotional moment for us. We were nervous stepping into the public eye, declaring our presence, and speaking out about the invisible labor behind AI felt like crossing a threshold. It wasn’t just a launch event; it was the beginning of a movement.
In those moments of uncertainty, we were deeply held by the moral encouragement of our allies. Friends, scholars, and organizers we had come to know through this work cheered us on, reminded us of our power, and made sure we didn’t feel alone. Their belief in us helped calm the anxiety of taking that first big step into public advocacy.
We were also fortunate to receive logistical and institutional support from key partners who made the launch possible. The DAIR Institute, Tukopticon, and AI Now played a crucial role in supporting the event, providing us with financial assistance. The Data Workers‘ Inquiry team supported us with planning, coordination, communications, and providing the kind of infrastructural support that’s often lacking in grassroots worker organizing. These organizations helped us focus on the message.
The DWI team also helped draft the invitations and flyers, provided guidance on building a social media campaign for the event, and provided material support with the online event’s infrastructure. Their support not only made the event possible, but it also gave our work a platform. It signaled to the broader AI and tech accountability ecosystem that our voices matter and that data workers are an essential part of these conversations.
Watch the launch event’s recording!
One thing we learned is the power of collective effort. Even without big resources, we were able to create something meaningful because of the shared commitment among workers and allies. We also learned how hungry people are for spaces where their labor is seen and their voices matter.
However, there are things we didn’t fully grasp at the time. We underestimated how much ongoing infrastructure and sustained support would be needed after the launch. While the energy was high at the beginning, maintaining momentum required more than goodwill—it required funding, dedicated organizers, and long-term strategy.
We also learned that visibility doesn’t automatically translate to structural change. The launch was an important first step, but it was just that—a step. The real work of building power, securing protections, and shifting industry norms is a long journey that requires more resources, more allies, and continued organizing.
The Data Labelers Association: Present and Future
Since our official launch, the Data Labelers Association has actively stepped into both local and global spaces. We’ve participated in conferences, podcasts, and public forums, ensuring that the voices of data workers remain part of the larger conversation around AI, labor, and justice.
Locally, we’ve joined a collective effort to challenge the Business Amendment Bill, a piece of legislation that threatens worker exploitation by the BPOs and Platform owners. We’re preparing to participate in public hearings in both the Kenyan Senate and Parliament, making sure data workers are represented in critical policy processes.
We’ve also begun engaging with various organizations to explore possibilities for collaboration. One major milestone has been signing an Memorandum Of Understanding with Pollicy and Siasa Place, two organizations deeply committed to civic engagement and tech accountability. These partnerships are helping us expand our reach and deepen our advocacy work.
It’s been four months of intense growth, a true learning curve but also a time filled with connection, reflection, and clarity. Throughout this journey, we’re especially grateful for the consistent support of the Data Workers’ Inquiry team, who have been integral to shaping the foundation and direction of the DLA. Their mentorship, guidance, and belief in our vision continue to be a source of strength and grounding.
We invite others to join us—because the future of data work should be shaped by those who do it.
You can learn more about our work on on Data Labelers Association website and follow our news on Linked In and Bluesky. DLA is actively looking for funders. If you believe our work is important and would like to support us, please don’t hesitate to reach out.
The leadership of the Data Labelers Association and Dr. Adio Dinika from the DWI
About the Author
Joan Kinyua
A devoted mother of one and a seasoned professional in the microwork industry, Joan brings over five years of experience in remote digital tasks. Her deep understanding of the challenges data labelers face has shaped her leadership in advocating for fair pay and better working conditions. Joan’s commitment to empowering others stems from her own journey, and she leads DLA with empathy, vision, and determination.