Artificial Intelligence should be used to crack down on online abuse in Ireland, according to a women’s League of Ireland footballer.

This year, the French Open organisers are using artificial intelligence (AI) to protect players from social media abuse.

The ‘Bodyguard’ technology will filter out abusive comments on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, YouTube, TikTok and Discord.

Speaking to Newstalk Breakfast, Bohemians soccer player Sarah Rowe said male and female players receive a high level of abuse on social media.

“Athletes have feelings too and someone like me who has been in the sport a couple of years has seen quite a bit of it,” she said.

“I have a way of handling those things and not internalising them or seeing the emotion in them.

“My worry would be for a younger player coming up and not being able to handle those things or those comments.

“Sometimes those comments can sit with you for a day, a week, a month or a year.”

Abuse

Rowe said the abuse is often directed at a player’s technique.

“After games, there would be footage of you scoring a goal for example, and it could say, ‘Well, her technique is poor,’” she said.

“'She can’t kick the ball anyway, she's no good, why is she playing in that position?’”

The Bohs star said the abuse can then veer into more personal aspects of the player’s life.

“There are personal things that could be to do with someone's looks,” she said.

“There's such a range of different things that come up, and they’re so random at times.”

11 March 2023; Sarah Rowe of Bohemians takes a photo with supporters PJ Murray and Fiadh Murray after the SSE Airtricity Women's Premier Division match between Bohemians and Shelbourne at Dalymount Park in Dublin. Photo by Tyler Miller/Sportsfile

The impact

Rowe said the negative comments will always “stick in your mind” more than any positive responses.

“You question whether it's true or not,” she said.

“Especially if you're getting the same thing said six or seven times, you're definitely thinking that this is true.”

Rowe said the technology may not be able to block out all the abuse, but any increase in protection would be welcome.

“It will start to block out certain things, and I'm sure there are certain things that they won't be able to avoid,” she said.

“I think anything to protect us – athletes are humans too and genuinely they do see the comments.”

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Main image shows Sarah Rowe of Bohemians after the SSE Airtricity Women's Premier Division match between Bohemians and Shelbourne at Dalymount Park in Dublin. Photo by Tyler Miller/Sportsfile