The White Paper, authored by Dr David Hassan and produced as part of a research programme under the guidance of the FIA University, sets out the sustained and collaborative approach the FIA will adopt in confronting online toxicity. Namely, the FIA will invest significant funding to support research via the FIA University and become the first governing body of sport to launch its own, dedicated research centre into online hate.
Published in 2023 and informed by industry experts, government institutions, and the FIA’s academic partners, the White Paper was presented to the FIA Member Clubs and the World Motor Sport Council. It revealed that across the European Union some 80% of people surveyed had encountered some form of online hate, with 40% of respondents claiming that they had been either left frightened or threatened by postings they had read online.
