INDIANAPOLIS (AP) - The Chicago Sky organization is addressing serious security concerns related to player safety, particularly on social media. Despite having extensive physical security protocols in place, including around hotels, gyms, buses, and airplanes, they recognized that the online environment posed additional risks for their athletes.
Earlier this month, the Sky formed a significant partnership with Moonshot, a firm specializing in online threat assessment, marking the first collaboration of its kind within the WNBA. Sky guard Ariel Atkins emphasized the human aspect of athletes, stating that while people often expect athletes to endure negativity, the comments can be damaging and inhumane. She expressed gratitude for the organization’s commitment to their safety.
Moonshot’s innovative technology was originally developed for counterterrorism and is employed by the U.S. government. Sky All-Star Angel Reese, who has a substantial social media presence among WNBA players, highlighted the importance of this technology, particularly for women who often face heightened levels of online scrutiny and threats.
The partnership grants the Sky athletes protection by utilizing Moonshot’s monitoring capabilities across over 25 various social media and internet platforms. This technology efficiently narrows down millions of posts daily to identify thousands that pose direct threats to the players. After identifying potential threats, Moonshot's team, which includes clinical psychologists and social workers, conducts a thorough review of these flagged posts, determining whether to escalate concerns to social media companies for content removal or to law enforcement in more severe cases.
The focus is on actionable threats, such as the dissemination of personal information or potential stalking scenarios. Moonshot co-founder and CEO Vidhya Ramalingam stressed that addressing these threats requires human intervention alongside technological solutions, framing it as fundamentally a human problem that necessitates a collaborative partnership.
The origin of this partnership stems from the experiences and understanding of Nadia Rawlinson, co-owner of the Chicago Sky. As a woman of color, Rawlinson’s insights into the challenges marginalized groups face informed her determination to enhance player safety amid the increasing attention and investment in women’s sports. She articulated a desire to mitigate the negative impacts that accompany the growth in visibility and fandom of women’s athletics.
Following her discovery of Moonshot in a tech publication, Rawlinson promptly reached out to Ramalingam to explore a partnership, highlighting a shared commitment to addressing these critical safety issues. Ramalingam noted a strong alignment in values stemming from their shared experiences as women of color in typically underrepresented spaces, emphasizing the need for proactive solutions to safeguard athletes.
In summary, the collaboration between the Chicago Sky and Moonshot aims to leverage technology and human expertise to protect players from online threats, marking a pioneering effort in the WNBA to ensure the safety and well-being of female athletes in the digital age.
