Global motor sports body collaborates with University of Notre Dame on AI’s role in tackling online abuse

DUBAI: The Federation Internationale de l’Automobile, the global governing body for motor sports and the federation for mobility organizations worldwide, has announced a landmark research collaboration with the University of Notre Dame, a leading research university in the US.

Supported by the FIA Foundation, the collaboration will help to strengthen the global response to online abuse in sport through joint research and innovation.

The agreement sets out a framework for collaborative research projects between the FIA and the University of Notre Dame. These will focus on the causes, impact and prevention of online abuse in sport, including the emerging role of artificial intelligence in the spread of harmful content and the development of potential solutions.

Additionally, they will examine how online abuse intersects with identity, alongside athlete experiences, mental health and the regulatory response of sports federations.

The University of Notre Dame and the United Against Online Abuse, or UAOA, campaign, founded in 2022 by FIA President Mohammed Ben Sulayem, are collaborating to address the growing challenge of online abuse in sports.

Speaking at the SEMA Show at the Las Vegas Convention Center, Ben Sulayem said: “This collaboration represents an important step forward in our mission to combat online abuse across all levels of sport.

“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.”

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