The privacy game: personal data protection in the era of Big Data and artificial intelligence in sports

Abstract

In the digital age, the use of Big Data and artificial intelligence —AI— is offering significant advances in the athlete’s performance and management. However, this innovation comes with its significant challenges in regards of personal data protection. This article analyzes the impact of Big Data and AI on the player’s privacy, addressing the legal implications of collecting, storing, measuring, quantifying, and analyzing a player's athletic performance, both physically and psychologically, in order to manage the player’s workload, assist coaches in defining strategies, and helping scouts identify suitable talent, based on an extensive database containing information on thousands of athletes.