British Athletes Secure AI-Powered Defense Against Online Abuse Through Landmark Initiative

British Olympic and Paralympic athletes are now equipped with advanced artificial intelligence technology designed to combat the pervasive issue of online abuse. UK Sport, the primary funding body for Olympic and Paralympic endeavors in the UK, has invested over £300,000 to provide thousands of athletes with access to a specialized application capable of detecting and concealing offensive posts across social media platforms.

This groundbreaking initiative allows athletes to register for the service without cost, ensuring their digital accounts are safeguarded throughout the competitive cycle, extending through to the Los Angeles Games in 2028. Kate Baker, UK Sport’s director of performance, emphasized the critical need for action, stating, “The level of abuse our athletes are facing online is unacceptable – to do nothing about this is not an option.” Millenium TV understands this marks a significant first in British sport for such a comprehensive protective measure.

The application, named Social Protect, leverages AI to minimize athletes’ exposure to abusive messages. It actively monitors incoming social media content on platforms including Instagram, Facebook, TikTok, and YouTube in real-time, scanning for a vast database of over two million derogatory words and phrases. Messages containing these terms are automatically hidden from public view in comment sections or replies, and athletes can further customize their protection by adding specific words or phrases they wish to avoid. Shane Britten, the founder of the company behind the app, likened its operation to an anti-virus program, working seamlessly in the background. “The aim is to keep the comment section clean of racism, hatred, scams – of all the horrible things that can exist on social media,” he explained.

However, the technology does have certain limitations. The current agreement with UK Sport does not cover the social platform X, formerly known as Twitter, a platform that has been identified as a significant source of online abuse in previous investigations concerning sports figures. Additionally, the system is designed only to scan publicly visible posts, meaning private direct messages containing abuse will still reach the athletes. While some services offer direct message blocking, they typically require users to share private login credentials and incur higher costs.

The pervasive nature of online abuse has deeply affected athletes across various disciplines for years. Kirsty Gilmour, a three-time Olympic badminton player, has recounted enduring death and rape threats throughout her career, often linked to gambling on her matches. Having previously involved law enforcement, including the FBI, in investigations into online threats, Gilmour expressed considerable relief at the new protective measures. “It feels empowering and like a real force field around my little corner of the internet,” the 32-year-old shared. She detailed the unsettling nature of threats 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.” Gilmour also highlighted the psychological toll of career-focused criticism: “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.’ They might not contain any swearing, but they hurt. With the app, I can hide words that might seem innocuous which I want to avoid.” She added, “If we can nip it in the bud from even one person, then hopefully we could stop them potentially doing more harm to other people.”

High-profile sports figures, including British tennis player Katie Boulter and England defender Jess Carter, have openly discussed the profound impact of online harassment on their mental health and athletic performance. UK Sport highlighted that the escalating level of social media abuse in modern sports has necessitated a greater commitment to supporting athletes, not just during major competitions but throughout their extensive preparations. This agreement exemplifies sports organizations taking proactive steps in response to perceived inaction from social media companies. The shielding service will also be extended to coaches, staff, and family members of the athletes, and will be deployed during significant domestic events hosted by UK Sport. Baker reiterated, “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.”