Content Leakage: Privacy, Exposure and the Athlete in the Public Eye

This chapter examines the phenomenon of content leakage in sport: the unauthorized disclosure of private, sensitive, or intimate information and its implications for athlete privacy, well-being, and institutional accountability. Drawing on interdisciplinary literature from cybersecurity, digital sociology, and sport ethics, and framed through the lens of the platformed risk society, the chapter develops a taxonomy of content leakage, including doxing, non-consensual image sharing, private communication leaks, medical and legal document exposure, and synthetic media. It explores the psychological, reputational, and cultural impacts of these violations on athletes, and highlights media amplification and institutional failures in exacerbating harm. The chapter then explores potential interventions, including athlete cybersecurity education, improved data governance, legal safeguards like the GDPR, and emerging privacy-enhancing technologies. Finally, the chapter frames digital privacy in sport as a matter of justice, advocating athlete agency and systemic reform to encourage a more ethical and secure digital environment.