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Elite British athletes are set to benefit from an innovative artificial intelligence-based system designed to combat online abuse. UK Sport, the national agency responsible for funding Olympic and Paralympic sports, has invested over £300,000 in a contract to provide thousands of athletes with access to a specialized application that detects and conceals abusive social media posts.
The initiative allows athletes to enroll free of charge, ensuring their online presence is safeguarded throughout the current Games cycle, extending up to the Los Angeles 2028 Olympics. Kate Baker, Director of Performance at UK Sport, underscored the necessity of this action, stating, “The level of abuse our athletes are facing online is unacceptable – to do nothing about this is not an option.” This agreement marks a pioneering step within British sport.
The application, known as Social Protect, employs AI to minimize athletes’ exposure to harmful messages. It continuously scans incoming posts on major platforms including Instagram, Facebook, TikTok, and YouTube in real-time. The system utilizes a database of over two million abusive words and phrases, automatically hiding any messages containing these terms from public comment sections or replies. Athletes also have the option to add specific words or phrases they find distressing to their personalized filter lists. Shane Britten, the app’s founder, likened the technology to anti-virus software, operating discreetly in the background to “keep the comment section clean of racism, hatred, scams – of all the horrible things that can exist on social media.”
However, Millenium TV understands that the software has certain limitations. The current contract does not cover the social platform X, previously known as Twitter, which is a significant source of online harassment, accounting for a large percentage of abuse directed at public figures in sport. Additionally, the system is designed only to scan publicly visible posts, meaning private direct messages containing abuse will still be seen by athletes.
The widespread rise of social media has subjected athletes across various disciplines to significant abuse since the mid-2000s. Three-time Olympic badminton athlete Kirsty Gilmour recounted receiving death and rape threats during her career, often linked to gambling on her matches. Having previously involved law enforcement, including the FBI, in investigations into online abuse, Gilmour expressed a sense of reassurance from the new protective measure. “It feels empowering and like a real force field around my little corner of the internet,” she stated.
Gilmour further detailed the types of threats she has faced, explaining, “They send things like ‘I know where you live’, or ‘I know where you’ll be’. And if I’m in Asia or somewhere which is a little unfamiliar to me, that’s a bit scary. You feel exposed.” She added, “The rape and the death threats are not good, but the more difficult ones are the ones that go after my career – ‘you’re terrible at your job’, ‘you should quit’, ‘you should retire’.” Gilmour noted that even messages without explicit swearing can be deeply hurtful, and the app allows her to hide such seemingly innocuous yet upsetting words. She expressed hope that by addressing abuse from even one individual, it could prevent them from causing further harm to others.
High-profile athletes, including British tennis player Katie Boulter and England defender Jess Carter, have openly discussed the profound impact of online abuse on their mental well-being and athletic performance. UK Sport has indicated that the escalating levels of social media abuse in modern sports have necessitated a greater degree of support for athletes, not only during major competitions but throughout their extensive preparations. This agreement exemplifies sports organizations taking proactive measures in response to what is perceived as inaction by social media companies.
The shielding service offered by the app will also be extended to coaches, staff, and family members connected to the athletes. Furthermore, it will be utilized during major domestic events hosted by UK Sport. Baker reiterated the organization’s commitment, affirming, “This agreement sits right at the heart of our commitment to ensure athletes have the right support to be the best version of themselves on and off the field of play.”
© Millenium TV
