The 2022 World Cup in Qatar was much more than just an exciting sporting event. It was also a groundbreaking project aimed at tackling social media abuse directed towards players. The project was a joint effort between FIFA and FIFPRO, the players’ global union, and utilized artificial intelligence to scan millions of posts and comments across various platforms such as Twitter, Instagram, Facebook, TikTok, and YouTube.
Thanks to the use of advanced technology, the project successfully identified over 300 individuals who made abusive, discriminatory, or threatening posts or comments. These individuals had their identities shared with the relevant member associations and jurisdictional law authorities to facilitate real-world action being taken against them. FIFA takes discrimination seriously, and rightfully so, as it is considered a criminal act.
Unfortunately, social media abuse is a widespread problem that affects many individuals, particularly those in the public eye. The abuse can lead to depression, and in some cases, it has even led to suicide. Players’ families were also targeted, and many were threatened if players returned to a particular country. Violence and threats became more extreme as the tournament progressed, which is deeply concerning.
The project’s success lies in its use of artificial intelligence, which has the ability to scan millions of posts and comments quickly and identify abusive ones with accuracy. The tool is used to identify the perpetrators and report them to the authorities so that they are punished for their actions. The players and teams were offered moderation software that intercepted more than 286,000 abusive comments before they were seen.
The success of this project has led FIFA and FIFPRO to extend the use of this system to the Women’s World Cup, which starts next month in Australia and New Zealand. The project’s success shows that social media platforms can do more to combat abuse. They must take a more proactive approach to identify and remove abusive posts and comments. They must also take responsibility for their role in perpetuating abuse and support initiatives that aim to combat it.
The use of artificial intelligence was key to the project’s success, and it has the potential to be used in other areas to combat abuse. The technology is capable of scanning millions of posts and comments quickly and identifying abusive ones with accuracy. It can also identify the perpetrators and report them to the authorities so that they are punished for their actions.
FIFA President Gianni Infantino stated that social media platforms should accept their responsibilities and support the fight against all forms of discrimination. Social media abuse is not limited to soccer players, and it has affected many other individuals. However, the use of artificial intelligence to combat abuse is a promising approach that could be used in other areas.
The battle against social media abuse is ongoing, but with the use of technology and collaborations between organizations, we can work towards a safer and more inclusive online environment. Social media platforms must do more to combat abuse and take responsibility for their role in perpetuating it.
In conclusion, the project that aimed to combat social media abuse targeted at soccer players was a success, and it has led to further initiatives to combat social media abuse. The use of artificial intelligence was vital to its success, and it has the potential to be used in other areas to combat abuse. With the continued use of technology and collaborations between organizations, we can work towards eradicating social media abuse and creating a safer online environment for everyone.
