Following a spate of racist outbursts and social media posts tagging players of color, three Dutch football teams’ stadiums are deploying artificial intelligence to sniff out racist soccer fans.
According to AFP, a trio of local companies — PSV, Feyenoord and PEC Zwolle — have launched a pilot program that uses AI coupled with cameras and microphones to monitor fans.
On the positive side, the feedback from the new gear helps “motivate” fans to sing and cheer along.
However, while soccer team songs and chanting are encouraged, racist slurs and jeers at stadiums in the Netherlands are not. That’s where the AI kicks in: Objectionable screams and comments trip an alert, and the systems in turn clue human monitors to replay what happened and take action against the unruly lot, if necessary.