FIA and University of Notre Dame partner to address online abuse in sports
The Federation Internationale de l’Automobile (FIA), the global governing body for motor sports, has announced a groundbreaking collaboration with the University of Notre Dame to confront the issue of online abuse in sports. Supported by the FIA Foundation, this partnership aims to develop innovative solutions through research and technology, including the use of artificial intelligence (AI).
A Research-Driven Initiative
The collaboration lays out a framework for joint research projects that will investigate the causes, consequences, and prevention of online abuse in sports. A key focus will be on how AI contributes to the spread of harmful content and how it can also play a role in combating it. Additionally, the research will examine the intersection of online abuse with identity, as well as its effects on athletes’ mental health and the regulatory responses of sports federations.
Speaking about the initiative during the SEMA Show at the Las Vegas Convention Center, FIA President Mohammed Ben Sulayem emphasized the importance of this partnership. "This collaboration represents an important step forward in our mission to combat online abuse across all levels of sport", he said. "I look forward to working with the University of Notre Dame, one of the world’s leading research institutions, to explore innovative, AI-powered solutions and to develop evidence-based strategies to ensure a safer and more inclusive sporting environment for all. Our joint goal is to foster a safer inclusive online environment for athletes, teams, and fans worldwide."
Expanding Efforts Through Technology and Education
The project will leverage AI-enabled tools to track trends in harassment and assess emerging risks. It will also include digital literacy workshops and a "Digital Civility and Safety Quest" program designed to educate young people about navigating online spaces safely. These efforts aim to create safer digital spaces for athletes and sports enthusiasts alike.
The findings from this collaboration will contribute to research papers and reports, including the UAOA Barometer, an annual study that tracks online abuse in sports. These outputs are expected to shape practical policies to protect online communities within the global sporting ecosystem.
Growth of the UAOA Campaign
This partnership marks a significant milestone for the FIA’s United Against Online Abuse (UAOA) campaign, which was launched in 2022 by Mohammed Ben Sulayem. The University of Notre Dame also signed the UAOA Charter, becoming the eighth academic institution to endorse the campaign. This collaboration represents UAOA’s first academic partnership within the United States, a country known for its passionate sports culture and major leagues such as the NFL, NBA, and MLB, which generate high levels of online engagement.
The UAOA campaign has grown rapidly in recent months and was recently recognized for its efforts with the Coalition for Peace award from Peace and Sport. The campaign's continued expansion underscores its commitment to creating a culture of respect and belonging within sports, both on and off the field.
This partnership with the University of Notre Dame highlights the FIA’s dedication to addressing the increasingly urgent issue of online abuse, leveraging both technology and research to drive meaningful change in the sporting world.