Nippon Professional Baseball (hereinafter NPB) introduced a system on July 1 that continuously monitors social media posts, in order to strengthen its response to illegal or improper posts targeting umpires, including defamation and slander, threats, and damage to reputation. When malicious posts are identified, measures such as reporting them to SNS operators, blocking accounts, and deleting posts will be taken.
Post from NPB’s official X account
NPB regards cheering and exchanging opinions through SNS as “an important form of communication that enhances the appeal and value of baseball.” At the same time, it emphasized that it will not tolerate posts that harm the honor, dignity, or human rights of umpires “under any circumstances.” Depending on the content, it is also prepared to file complaints with the police and take legal action.
In relation to professional baseball, the Japan Professional Baseball Players Association had announced on October 10, 2025, that it would introduce an AI system to automatically detect defamation and slander on SNS targeting players and their families.
Full text on the introduction of the defamation and slander monitoring system (source: press release)
