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The French Tennis Federation (FFT) is providing all players at the 2023 Roland Garros with greater protection against cyberbullying by developing an anti-online harassment and hate speech tool.
Confirmed:
- FFT to use artificial intelligence (AI) technology from Bodyguard.ai to moderate social media content for players during the French Open Grand Slam event
- Official FFT and Roland Garros social media accounts to also be protected with the AI technology
- Platforms to be monitored include Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, YouTube, TikTok and Discord
- Players can opt into protections by connecting social media accounts to Bodyguard’s technology
- Players’ private messages to not be moderated for GDPR reasons
- Firm’s platform will provide tournament organisers with daily reports and live alerts when a cyberbullying attack is identified
- FFT can request extracts of messages and the identities of those who make abusive comments
- Comments said to be analysed in less than 200 milliseconds
Context:
The FFT previously established a support unit for French players in 2018 and are now taking further steps to address the issue of social media abuse. Tennis is not alone in identifying the problem and taking steps to address it. Last year in Australian soccer’s A-Leagues GoBubble’s AI technology was introduced to monitor the social media accounts of every player and act as a filter for offensive content.
Comment:
“We will not accept any form of violence at our tournament,” said Caroline Flaissier, FFT director. “We’re very proud to be the first Grand Slam tournament to offer players a solution that efficiently protects them against cyberbullying.
“We want to protect players from this damaging behaviour, to enable them to be in peak mental condition when they compete in the tournament.”
Coming next:
Bodyguard’s technology is being offered to all players ahead of the tournament and be in place when the main draw at Roland Garros gets underway on 28th May.
