TL;DR:
- FIFA’s project, in collaboration with FIFPRO, successfully utilized AI to detect and track social media abuse during the 2022 World Cup.
- Over 300 individuals who posted abusive, discriminatory, or threatening content on platforms like Twitter, Instagram, Facebook, TikTok, and YouTube were identified and reported to law enforcement.
- The AI system scanned and flagged more than 19,000 abusive posts and comments out of a total of 20 million.
- Europe-based accounts accounted for 38% of the identified abuse, while South America accounted for 36%.
- Players and teams were provided with moderation software that intercepted 286,000 abusive comments before they were seen.
- The identities of the offenders will be shared with member associations and law authorities for real-world action to be taken against them.
- FIFA President Gianni Infantino emphasized the need for social media platforms to take responsibility and support the fight against discrimination.
- The success of the AI-powered initiative has led to its extension for use at the upcoming Women’s World Cup.
Main AI News:
In a groundbreaking initiative at the 2022 World Cup, artificial intelligence (AI) has been employed to combat the scourge of social media abuse targeted at players. The FIFA (Fédération Internationale de Football Association) reported that their project, in collaboration with FIFPRO (International Federation of Professional Footballers), successfully pinpointed more than 300 individuals responsible for making abusive, discriminatory, or threatening posts and comments on platforms such as Twitter, Instagram, Facebook, TikTok, and YouTube. These individuals’ details have been handed over to law enforcement agencies for further action.
The report released by FIFA highlights the remarkable efficacy of the AI-powered system in shielding players and officials from online vitriol during the tournament held in Qatar. Notably, the most significant surge in abusive content was observed during the France-England quarterfinals match. The project’s innovative utilization of AI algorithms played a pivotal role in identifying and concealing offensive social media content.
As the World Cup progressed, the intensity and severity of violence and threats escalated dramatically. The report sheds light on the alarming trend of targeted attacks on players’ families, with numerous individuals facing threats upon their return to their home countries or the nations they represent. FIFA’s joint venture with FIFPRO involved scanning an astonishing 20 million posts and comments, eventually flagging over 19,000 of them as abusive. Out of these, more than 13,000 were promptly reported to Twitter for necessary action.
The report reveals that Europe-based accounts were responsible for 38% of the identifiable abuse, while South America accounted for 36%. The findings underscore the urgent need for concerted efforts to address this pervasive issue. David Aganzo, the president of FIFPRO, expressed his deep concern, stating, “The figures and findings in this report do not come as a surprise, but they are still massively concerning.”
To combat the widespread abuse, players and teams were provided with moderation software, which successfully intercepted a staggering 286,000 abusive comments before they could be viewed. Furthermore, FIFA has taken a resolute stance against the offenders by sharing the identities of the more than 300 individuals involved in posting abuse with relevant member associations and jurisdictional law authorities. This cooperative approach aims to facilitate real-world actions against the culprits, as discrimination is rightfully deemed a criminal act.
FIFA President Gianni Infantino, highlighting the significance of the AI tool, emphasized the necessity of holding perpetrators accountable. He affirmed, “With the help of this tool, we are identifying the perpetrators, and we are reporting them to the authorities so that they are punished for their actions.” Infantino further urged social media platforms to acknowledge their responsibilities and actively support the fight against all forms of discrimination.
Conclusion:
The successful implementation of AI technology to combat social media abuse during the World Cup signifies a significant milestone in the market. This groundbreaking initiative demonstrates the effectiveness of AI algorithms in identifying and flagging abusive content, enabling swift action against offenders. The collaboration between FIFA and FIFPRO sets a precedent for other organizations to adopt similar AI-powered solutions to safeguard athletes and officials from online abuse.
The extension of this system to the Women’s World Cup underscores the growing importance of addressing the issue of social media abuse across various sports events. As the market evolves, businesses involved in online platforms and social media networks will face increasing pressure to enhance moderation capabilities and actively support measures against discrimination to ensure a safer and more inclusive digital environment for users.
