The Paris-based FIA, motorsport's world governing body, is working with a global coalition of sports and governments to step up the use of artificial intelligence (AI) to combat online abuse.
The first meeting of the Coalition Against Online Abuse (UAOA) will be held in the French capital on Wednesday to discuss measures to be taken.
The FIA has already partnered with Arwen AI, which has worked with Mercedes, Red Bull and Alpine F1 teams, and a spokesman said the F1 governing body's AI capabilities are being built.
FIA president Mohamed Ben Sulayem told Reuters more than 4,000 sites were blocked in the seven weeks leading up to last year's FIA annual general meeting.
An FIA spokesman said discussions had taken place with TikTok, Google France, Facebook, Instagram and WhatsApp's parent company Meta.
Attendees on Wednesday included representatives from World Rugby, the International Tennis Federation, the ATP Tour and football's governing body FIFA, as well as France's Minister of Sport and Olympics, Amelie Oudea-Castella.
Ben Sulayem said a recent Barometer survey revealed that 75 percent of athletes reported threats to their physical safety.
More than 90% of athletes agreed that if online abuse isn't addressed, athletes would quit the sport – an issue that also affects those who give their time for free.
“They are volunteers. If you take them away there will be no F1, no WRC (World Rally Championship), there will be nothing,” Ben Sulayem said.
“I have received threats. Volunteers have received threats, drivers have received threats, stewards have received threats. If this continues for too long it will damage our sport beyond repair.”
“I believe that if we come together at the government level, the media level or the federal level, we can make a difference,” he added.
“We have the support of the French government and we believe that together we can make a difference. We are happy about this and we have momentum.” Reuters
