BWF Commits to Online Safeguarding Partnership

The Badminton World Federation (BWF) has partnered with Signify Group, a global specialist in online threat mitigation, to strengthen protection for players, officials, and the wider badminton community against online abuse and digital threats.

As online abuse and harm continue to grow across sport, BWF remains committed to ensuring that everyone involved in badminton has access to effective tools, reporting channels, and safety resources.

Overview

Through this partnership, Signify Group and its Threat Matrix service will assist BWF in the following areas:

• Reporting of Direct Message (DM) Threats
  Supporting players and officials to report abusive or threatening private messages to the BWF Integrity Unit.
• Risk & Threat Assessments
  Expert evaluation of reported messages to determine the level of concern and appropriate follow‑up.
• Investigations
  Escalation of serious cases for detailed OSINT (Open-Source Intelligence) investigation and identification of offenders.
• Identification of Offenders
  Providing information that enables BWF and Member Associations to act where misconduct is identified.
• Law Enforcement Support
  Preparing evidential packages for referral to relevant authorities in potential criminal cases.
• Training & Resources
  Providing educational material to help the badminton community manage online abuse and improve digital safety.
• Event Content Moderation
  Removing abusive content from BWF’s official channels during key tournaments.

Educational Material

BWF and Signify Group have produced guidelines to help the community navigate online spaces safely.

DOWNLOAD: BWF Online Safeguarding and Wellbeing Guide

Please share these materials widely with athletes and support staff.

Reporting

Member Associations are encouraged to report any incidents of online abuse within your national communities to the BWF Integrity Unit. Timely reporting allows us to assess cases and provide support.

Please also avoid re-posting abusive content publicly on personal social media channels. Doing so alerts offenders, who may quickly hide or lock their accounts, making investigations more difficult. Always report incidents directly to the BWF Integrity Unit as soon as possible.

Email: [email protected]

Responsibility

We remind all members of the badminton community — including players, officials, coaches, administrators, and fans — the shared responsibility for promoting respect and integrity online.

Please be mindful of what you post, avoid sharing or engaging with abusive or inflammatory content, and refrain from contributing to public controversy. We are role models for the badminton community.

Positive online behaviour helps protect our athletes, officials, and the reputation of our sport.

More Information / Contact Person

For more information, please contact Deputy Director of Communications, Lloyd Green ([email protected]).