Motorsport’s world governing body, the Paris-based FIA, is increasing its employ of artificial intelligence (AI), working with a global coalition of athletes and governments to combat online abuse.
The first conference of United Against Online Abuse (UAOA) will be held in the French capital on Wednesday to discuss the measures to be taken.
The FIA has already partnered with artificial intelligence Arwen, which has worked with the Mercedes, Red Bull and Alpine Formula One teams, and a spokesman said F1’s governing body’s artificial intelligence capabilities are being developed.
FIA president Mohammed Ben Sulayem told Reuters that more than 4,000 websites were blocked in seven weeks ahead of the FIA’s annual congress last year.
continued below
An FIA spokesman said discussions had taken place with TikTok, Google France and Facebook, Instagram and parent company Meta.
Representatives of World Rugby, the International Tennis Federation and the ATP Tour, the football organization FIFA and the French Minister of Sports and Olympic Games, Amelie Oudea-Castera, will be present on Wednesday.
Ben Sulayem said a recent barometer survey showed that 75 percent of athletes reported threats to their physical safety.
More than 90 percent agreed that athletes would leave the sport if the issue of online violence was not addressed. The problem also affects those who give their time for free.
“Volunteers. They are removed and there is no Formula 1. There is no WRC (World Rally Championship). Nothing,” said Ben Sulayem.
“I’ve had threats, our volunteers have been threatened, our drivers, our stewards have been threatened. If we allow this to continue, our sport will be beyond repair.
“I believe we can make a difference by coming together at the government, media or federal level,” he added.
“We have the support of the French government. I believe that by working together, we can make a difference. I feel good about it, there’s a animated.”
