Genetic Matchmaking and Digital Intimacy: Emerging Genomic Ethics Challenges for Somali Youth (Preprint)

BACKGROUND The convergence of artificial intelligence, digital matchmaking, direct-to-consumer genetic testing, and reproductive genomics is creating an emerging ethical frontier for digital health. This Commentary examines the potential implications of genomic matchmaking for Somali youth, while recognizing that there is currently insufficient evidence that DNA-based partner selection is widespread in Somalia. Genomic information can support specific reproductive risk assessment, but it cannot reliably capture emotional, psychological, social, cultural, or marital compatibility. Integrating genomic signals into matchmaking could therefore transform uncertain biological probabilities into socially consequential rankings, creating risks of genomic privacy violations, algorithmic discrimination, reduced reproductive autonomy, and inequitable access. These concerns may be amplified by limited genomic representation of African populations and by potential cross-border control of Somali genomic data. We argue that Somalia should adopt anticipatory governance before genomic matchmaking becomes normalized, including strong genetic-data protections, meaningful and ongoing consent, algorithmic transparency, restrictions on secondary data use, protection against genetic discrimination, culturally appropriate genetic counseling, equitable benefit sharing, and investment in local genomic and bioinformatics capacity. Most importantly, genomic technologies should support informed reproductive decision-making rather than automate intimate choices or define human compatibility. Governance before normalization offers Somalia an opportunity to shape a more equitable, rights-based, and locally accountable genomic digital future. OBJECTIVE To examine the emerging ethical, privacy, equity, and governance implications of integrating genomic information into AI-enabled matchmaking and reproductive decision-making in Somalia, and to propose an anticipatory governance framework before such technologies become normalized. METHODS The analysis identifies four major concerns: genomic privacy, algorithmic discrimination, reproductive autonomy, and inequitable access. Genomic data may be re-identified, shared, or commercially repurposed, while genetic prediction tools may perform less reliably in underrepresented African populations. Using genomic information as a matchmaking variable could transform uncertain biological probabilities into socially consequential judgments of partner suitability. Somalia also faces potential risks of external data extraction without adequate local governance, expertise, or benefit sharing. RESULTS We conducted a narrative, multidisciplinary analysis of literature on direct-to-consumer genetic testing, reproductive genomics, AI-driven matchmaking, genomic privacy, algorithmic discrimination, digital health equity, and genomic governance. Evidence from African and international contexts was critically interpreted to identify potential implications for Somalia, while distinguishing established evidence from forward-looking considerations CONCLUSIONS Somalia should adopt governance before normalization as a guiding principle for emerging genomic and AI-enabled technologies. Priorities should include legal protection of genetic data, meaningful consent, algorithmic transparency, genetic counseling, protection against discrimination, equitable representation, local genomic capacity, and fair benefit sharing. Genomic technologies should support informed reproductive choice rather than automate intimate decisions or define human compatibility. CLINICALTRIAL Not applicable. This article did not involve a clinical trial or prospective assignment of participants to an intervention.