The esteemed governing bodies of tennis – including the International Tennis Federation (ITF), Women’s Tennis Association (WTA), All England Lawn Tennis Club (AELTC), and United States Tennis Association (USTA) – have unveiled a new partnership with Threat Matrix in a concerted effort to address the escalating problem of online player abuse.
This groundbreaking initiative has been introduced with the aim of providing enhanced protection to athletes from the perils of cyber harassment and abuse. Threat Matrix, a revered monitoring company renowned for its utilization of a unique blend of Artificial Intelligence (AI) and human oversight, has been entrusted with the responsibility of identifying and reporting abusive comments on various social media platforms.
Of paramount concern to Threat Matrix are comments pertaining to racism, sexism, homophobia, and anti-Semitism. Leveraging the advanced capabilities of their technology, the company boasts the ability to track down the perpetrators of these abusive comments and collaborate with the appropriate authorities, including law enforcement agencies, to bring them to justice.
Commencing January 1, 2024, the esteemed tennis governing bodies will commence a collaborative effort with Threat Matrix to mitigate the incidence of online abuse aimed at players. In a united statement, these esteemed organizations have unequivocally expressed their unwavering dedication to championing the cause of athletes and safeguarding them against the mental and real-world threats posed by online harassment and abuse.
In recent years, tennis players have reported a noticeable surge in online verbal abuse, with some attributing this surge to the expansion of legal sports betting throughout the US. In this context, the crucial role played by Threat Matrix in identifying abusers and ensuring that appropriate action is taken against them cannot be overstated.
Tennis, being a sport characterized by head-to-head competition, presents unique challenges, as players are more susceptible to online attacks from disgruntled bettors owing to their substantial impact on match outcomes. Furthermore, tennis players are frequently targeted by rogue bettors seeking to exert influence over match results.
In a recent study carried out by Threat Matrix, social media accounts of 454 tennis players were thoroughly monitored, yielding significant findings – one in every four players had been subjected to online abuse. The platform successfully identified the individuals behind 438 accounts responsible for issuing threats and promptly furnished this information to the relevant authorities.
David Haggerty, president of the ITF, has fervently emphasized that the safety of players extends far beyond the confines of the tennis court, particularly in this digital age. He has unequivocally stated, “Social media abuse represents a grave concern for athletes, and this initiative marks a bold and pioneering step towards tackling it. Tennis must be a sport in which players can compete to the best of their abilities, free from any form of harassment.”
Threat Matrix will maintain a vigilant presence across various social media platforms, including X, Instagram, YouTube, Facebook, and TikTok, meticulously scanning for abusive and threatening content across 35 different languages. Players are earnestly urged to promptly share any direct messages containing inappropriate language with Threat Matrix for careful evaluation.
In cases where personal safety is deemed to be at risk, Threat Matrix will expedite a comprehensive threat assessment and collaborate with law enforcement in the investigation of the most severe cases. Furthermore, the creators of the Threat Matrix product, Signify Group, remain unwaveringly committed to demonstrating how the fusion of AI and big data can significantly contribute to the cultivation of social empathy and inspire the development of superior products and policies in line with their mission statement.