Angry gamblers were behind 48% of the 12,000 social media posts deemed abusive towards tennis players this year, according to an artificial intelligence-led detection system.
The International Tennis Federation (ITF), Women’s Tennis Association (WTA), All England Lawn Tennis Club (AELTC) and United States Tennis Association (USTA) joined forces late last year to launch a program that monitors posts on X, Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, and YouTube.
Between January and October this year, the ‘Threat Matrix’ service monitored 2.47 million posts.
About 12,000 posts and comments violated the social media platform’s community guidelines.
This is referred to the social media platform to remove the abuse and, in serious cases, to the entire account.
Misuse of 15 accounts violated the criminal threshold and was handed over to national law enforcement for further action.
Former world number one Victoria Azarenka, a long-time member of the WTA Players Council, said she was pleased the system was helping “create a healthier online environment”.
“It is important for the WTA and its partner organizations to take meaningful steps to filter, block and report hateful and harmful comments,” said the 35-year-old Belarusian.
“No one should have to endure the hate so many of us face through this platform.”
