FIFA Report: AI Monitors Unearthed 20K Abusive Posts during Qatar World Cup

AI Monitoring software that uses artificial intelligence (AI) has unearthed 20K abusive  social media posts were aimed at players, officials and coaches during the Qatar World Cup, according to a new report released by FIFA.

https://twitter.com/fifawcqatarlive/status/1680484291829186560

FIFA has shed light on the alarming prevalence of online abuse targeting players, officials, and coaches during the Qatar World Cup. The report highlights the effectiveness of monitoring software that utilizes artificial intelligence (AI) in detecting abusive social media posts. According to FIFA's findings, the AI-powered monitoring software successfully identified and flagged nearly 20,000 abusive posts during the prestigious football tournament. These posts, filled with hateful and derogatory content, were specifically directed at various individuals associated with the World Cup.

These posts contained hateful and derogatory content, specifically targeting individuals involved in the highly anticipated football tournament. Such online abuse not only undermines the spirit of fair play and respect but also poses a significant threat to the mental well-being of those targeted.
In total, 20 million posts and comments were analyzed across all major social media platforms, successfully verifying the identity of 306 account owners that sent abusive messages.
The report carried out in conjunction with global players’ union FIFPro says FIFA will work with law enforcement “to submit evidence packs to build cases where abusive messages have passed criminal thresholds.”

The system, called the social media protection service (SMPS), monitors and hides abuse from players and will also be available for teams, players and coaches to use at the Women’s World Cup, which begins on July 2023.

The software also analyzed the accounts of national teams, former players and media members. In total, 434,000 posts were flagged by AI and reviewed by humans, the report said, with the abusive messages coming from 12,600 different accounts.

Additionally, the software also hid 287,000 abusive comments before they were seen by the intended recipient.
While the findings of the FIFA report are disheartening, they also serve as a call to action. It is imperative for society as a whole to recognize the severity of online abuse and take collective responsibility for eradicating it. By harnessing the power of AI technology, we can take significant strides towards creating a safer and more supportive digital landscape for athletes, officials, and coaches worldwide.