NCAA joins initiative to combat online harassment of athletes

The NCAA has become the first sports governing body to join the Bad Actor Program, an initiative designed to identify and hold accountable individuals who engage in online harassment, threats, or abusive behavior toward student-athletes, coaches, and officials.

Developed by Integrity Compliance 360 (IC360) and Signify Group, the program utilizes social media monitoring and investigative tools to track abusive conduct. Participating organizations, including Fanatics Sportsbook, may use the gathered information to restrict or terminate betting accounts, exclude individuals from live sporting events, or refer cases to law enforcement.

The move follows NCAA research indicating a significant link between sports betting and online abuse. A study identified over 5,000 verified abusive or threatening social media posts, with 12 percent of that abuse directly connected to sports betting. In men’s basketball, that figure rose to 19 percent. The research also noted that women’s basketball players received approximately three times as many threats as men’s basketball players.