FIA adds seven digital harm categories to combat driver abuse

FIA expands digital harm categories

The FIA expanded its Online Community Guidelines last week during the Sao Paulo Grand Prix weekend and added seven categories of digital harm, such as impersonation, surveillance, account lockout, and toxic content, to its existing United Against Online Abuse initiative. This initiative began in 2023 and has evolved to address the severe abuse drivers face. I find the update necessary because Pierre Gasly and his family received 13,000 death threats this season after Alpine ordered Franco Colapinto to let the French driver pass during the Spanish Grand Prix. This incident triggered massive reactions from supporters, particularly toward Colapinto. The Argentine driver, whose fanbase has come under the microscope several times throughout his career, told RacingNews365 that he has fought hard against this abuse this year and that the sport must keep understanding how to improve without letting the issue rest. Colapinto, working with Alpine and everyone in the paddock, insists the community must be proactive and not let the situation stay the same.

Drivers slam online bullies

Gabriel Bortleto and Franco Colapinto praised the FIA for being proactive against digital harassment. Bortleto, who drives for Audi, called those who post insults and threats online "cowards" because they "wouldn’t have the balls" to deliver such messages to a driver’s face. He stated that he is happy if someone wants to come to his face and say something, but online abuse is for cowards. He noted that while he is open to constructive criticism in a free world, he will not accept people judging him in a negative way because they do this from behind a screen. Colapinto, who has been fighting hard against this all year, said that he, his team, Alpine, and everyone in the paddock have been fighting hard against it. The FIA has deployed automated moderation software like Arwen.ai to filter abusive comments directed at officials and participants in real time and has built referral pathways with law enforcement to escalate the most serious threats for prosecution. These drivers talk frequently about the issue between themselves and see progress being made. Bortleto, who noted that Colapinto has been more openly vocal about the topic, also said he sees a lot of progress being made through these efforts.