During the 2024 Olympics in Paris, an AI system monitored social media for online abuse aimed at athletes. With over 15,000 athletes competing, the expected volume of posts was around half a billion. World Athletics analyzed social media activity from 1,917 athletes on platforms like X, Instagram, Facebook, and TikTok, flagging over 34,000 posts for review. After human verification, 809 posts were confirmed as abusive.
The AI tool can detect harmful content in 35 languages. It scans for posts that might be violent or abusive and then sends them for human review. The aim is to prevent athletes from seeing the abuse by removing harmful content quickly. Kirsty Burrows, from the International Olympic Committee (IOC), noted that the industry standard for online abuse suggests that 20 million posts during the Games could potentially be abusive.
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High-profile athletes like Caroline Garcia and Jude Bellingham have spoken out against online abuse, emphasizing its impact on mental health. Garcia shared screenshots of threatening messages, stating that such attacks hurt, while Bellingham has highlighted the discrimination faced by players, especially those from minority backgrounds.
This effort is part of a broader recognition of the harmful effects of online abuse on athletes. The IOC is committed to creating a safer online environment, allowing athletes to engage with their fans without fear. As the use of AI expands in sports, the hope is that these tools will improve safety and support for athletes both during events and throughout their careers.
For more information, you can refer to the full article on AI's role in monitoring online abuse during the Olympics.
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