After a test project at the 2026 World Cup Finals in Fort Worth, the FEI has again mandated British tech company Signify to monitor and protect athletes and officials on social media with their software programme Threat Matrix.
According to the FEI the Signify Group is "a global leader in online abuse and threat prevention, intelligence, and investigations." By joining forces with Signify, the FEI hopes to "help protect all athletes, coaches, FEI officials and other key stakeholders from online harassment and abuse during the FEI World Championships Aachen 2026."
Handling Online Abuse
As part of the FEI's ongoing commitment to safeguarding the equestrian community, the Federation and Signify will implement a comprehensive range of solutions including education, AI monitoring and threat assessment, content moderation, Direct Message (DM) support, and investigations.
At the heart of the project, Signify’s Threat Matrix artificial intelligence service will identify, assess and investigate instances of online abuse in the lead-up to and throughout the Championships. The service will provide the FEI with real-time alerts and support, enabling swift action where appropriate.
Threatened Athletes and Officials
The FEI’s decision to work with Signify reflects a growing recognition that athletes and officials are increasingly exposed to online abuse and threat, particularly during major competitions or following high-profile incidents.
There are documented cases of athletes receiving threatening messages, sustained abusive commentary on social media, and targeted harassment before, during and after sporting events and in connection with wider welfare debates. In some instances, athletes have described coordinated abuse across multiple platforms following competition-related controversies.
“Constructive criticism and respectful debate remain an important part of sport and will continue to be welcomed,” FEI Legal Director Mikael Rentsch said. “At the same time, the FEI takes a clear zero-tolerance approach to online abuse, including hate speech, racism, homophobia, graphic or harmful content, fraud, spam and other forms of unacceptable behaviour.
Rentsch continued, “pur objective is to foster a safe and respectful online environment where athletes, officials and all members of our community can engage with confidence. By monitoring and addressing harmful content, we reinforce that abuse is not tolerated and will be acted upon. We also want to ensure that athletes and officials understand how to protect themselves online, how to report concerns, and that appropriate support is available when needed.”
No Fear of Abuse
Jake Marsh, Signify Group Head of Sport said: “Sport should be a place where athletes and officials can perform and engage without fear of abuse. Having seen the impact of our monitoring service at the FEI World Cup™ Finals in Fort Worth, we're pleased to bring an expanded offering to Aachen, working hand-in-hand with the FEI and the German Equestrian Federation. The Threat Matrix service identifies risks early, mitigates harmful content in real-time, and delivers investigations that hold perpetrators accountable — helping to make this one of the most comprehensively protected Championships to date.”
Positive Feedback
Signify is internationally recognised for delivering online threat intelligence, investigations and digital risk protection to leading sports organisations and major global events, helping identify threats, protect people and safeguard the integrity of sport. Earlier this year, the FEI successfully piloted the company's monitoring service during the FEI World Cup™ Finals in Fort Worth, Texas (USA), where the initiative received positive feedback from athletes and other stakeholders.
Building on the insights gained during that pilot, the service will be expanded for the FEI World Championships in Aachen, with the FEI working together with the German Equestrian Federation, which will also use Signify’s Threat Matrix service to support online safeguarding during the Championships.
Service in Aachen
The service at the FEI World Championships in Aachen will include:
- Real-time monitoring of public conversations and comments to identify emerging risks, shifts in sentiment and potential escalation, with alerts and investigations evidence provided to the FEI's communications, security and safeguarding teams; and
- Content moderation across official FEI and event social media channels, including the removal of abusive content where appropriate.
Photo © Astrid Appels
Related Link
FEI Mandates Tech Company Signify to Monitor and Protect Athletes on Social Media