FIA marks first annual United Against Online Abuse Day
The FIA marks its first United Against Online Abuse Day.
The FIA has marked its first annual United Against Online Abuse Day on Tuesday, July 7, bringing together Formula 1 drivers and paddock figures to call for an end to online abuse.
The United Against Online Abuse campaign was put in place by FIA President, Mohammed Ben Sulayem, in 2023, and has received co-funding from the European Union for its work to operate.
First annual FIA United Against Online Abuse Day takes place
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The campaign began in the aftermath of an FIA steward receiving abuse and harassment following the 2022 United States Grand Prix, with the FIA seeking to collaborate across different sports and sectors to look to tackle online abuse.
UAOA has since seen more than 70 members join its coalition in the hope of sport being the platform in which to bring people together online, rather than using the online sphere to seek division.
This first annual day carried with it the message that “online abuse has no place in sport”, with Ben Sulayem and the full Formula 1 grid having marked the occasion at the British Grand Prix at Silverstone.
Ben Sulayem said: “Online abuse undermines our competitions and endangers our athletes, officials, and fans. It erodes the very spirit of sport. But together, we can change that.”
Fernando Alonso added: “It doesn’t matter if you’re in a different team or you support different colours, all of them deserve respect.
“Together, we can make the sport and the world a better place. We need to work all together on this.”
Online abuse is not limited to drivers, with team personnel and broadcasters also subject to being abused on social media.
Sky F1 presenter Natalie Pinkham said: “Be disruptive in this space, don’t be afraid to call stuff out, like if it doesn’t feel right when you read it, call it out.”
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McLaren CEO, Zak Brown, added: “I think a great way for the fans and the community to get involved is to stand up for it as well. The more positive news we get, the more that will bury those that are spreading hate.”
UAOA looks to deliver on its premise by conducting research which can then inform education and policy development which, in turn, will look to both limit the amount of abuse people face online, while teaching the next generation about the impacts it can have.
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