WIMBLEDON is using AI to scan social media as part of a new crackdown on online abuse against tennis stars.
The revolutionary Threat Matrix tool is being used for the first time this year to detect vile vitriol directed at players.
It automatically flags death threats, racism and sexist comments in 35 different languages across their public-facing accounts.
Players can also opt in to a special support service if they receive any offensive direct messages on X, Facebook, Instagram, TikTok and YouTube.
Championships chiefs consult the players about internet hate before reporting them to tech giants for removal or to the police if deemed necessary.
Jamie Baker, Wimbledon’s tournament director and former British No2, said: “This year is the first year we have got a social media monitoring service, specifically for the event.
“We are scrolling social media for any of this type of content, and it means that we get information that we haven’t had in the past.
“We are not just relying on what the player might be saying has happened to them but also if there is something that is of concern that is when our security team is going to basically kick in and actually help do something about it.”
He added: “If we’ve got anything that we think is a concern or worth flagging, ultimately it’s engaging the player and then you deal with the next steps on that.
“It’s the first year we have had it at our event but tennis is doing a lot more of this now, so I think in general for the athletes I think it’s really positive that we’re taking this step.”
Jamie said it is “slightly different” to the software deployed at last year’s Roland Garros and will be used at the US Open alongside the ITF World Tennis Tour and WTA Tour.
The AI driven service, developed by Signify Group, is supported by specialist investigations teams at Quest and Theseus Risk Management.
It went live on January 1 after a 2022 study found one in four tennis aces were subject to abuse.
The service monitored more than 1.6million Tweets and 19,000 Instagram comments sent to 454 players – with 546 offensive posts from 438 accounts identified.
Harriet Dart, who beat British no1 Katie Boulter to reach the fourth round on Thursday, spoke about the hate.
She said on Thursday: “I mean, I use it from time to time. Yeah, I mean, I share what I want to share on social media.
“But, yeah, I don’t know. I just think there’s a lot of positives for it but also a lot of negatives. I’m sure today, if I open one of my apps, regardless if I won, I’d have a lot of hate, as well.”
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