We are excited to announce Canadian Formula One driver Nicholas Latifi as our newest official ambassador. The Formula One driver joins a number of existing celebrities, public figures, and creators who share our vision for a kinder, safer, and more inclusive internet.
Latifi, who drives for the Williams Formula One team, stepped forward to officially support our work following an incident at the 2021 Grand Prix in Abu Dhabi that resulted in a torrent of online abuse that included death threats.
I'm proud to be supporting the great work that The Cybersmile Foundation is doing on an international scale. My own personal experience of online abuse was unpleasant and unsettling, but I'm one of the lucky ones that has a strong support network of family and friends around me. There are lots of people that often have to face cyberbullying and online abuse alone or don't have the knowledge of how to effectively deal with a situation and regain control. For me, that's a situation that has to change. I'm determined to do what I can to help, especially around efforts to promote kindness, diversity, and inclusion.
Nicholas Latifi, Cybersmile Ambassador
Nicholas spoke publicly about his experience and received an overwhelmingly positive response from F1 fans, fellow drivers, and other public figures around the world. This personal experience and public reaction inspired him to do all he can to make the online world a safer place. He has pledged to take action by joining us as an official ambassador to help raise awareness of our work on a global level and is committed to having a powerful social impact.
We're super excited to announce Nicholas as a Cybersmile ambassador and to start making a real impact together. I know Nicholas is really passionate about the power and importance of kindness and empathy online, and he speaks authentically from his own personal experience. Cybersmile offers a range of services to help prevent problems online as well as help people deal with them should they occur. We are excited to work with Nicholas to help support our mission and raise awareness of the help available to those affected.
Scott Freeman, CEO, The Cybersmile Foundation
We will announce further details of the work that we will undertake together in the coming weeks once Formula One pre-season testing has concluded.