Rockstar partner explains GTA Online AI voice chat moderation feature

Rockstar Games began integrating AI voice chat moderation in GTA Online back in October 2023. It started with PC that month and was extended to PS5 and Xbox Series X/S consoles in December that year. Finally, it came to PS4 and Xbox One in February 2024. The AI voice chat moderation tool being used is Modulate's proactive voice moderation platform — ToxMod.

Its purpose is flagging toxic conversations in the title's multiplayer lobbies, helping Rockstar moderate a gigantic playerbase across multiple platforms.

Modulate recently released an article, shedding a little more light on what ToxMod, the AI voice chat moderation tool, does in GTA Online. Let's dive right in.

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Modulate sheds light on partnership with Rockstar Games regarding GTA Online AI voice chat moderation

Modulate states that it is working closely with Rockstar Games to "protect the millions of players enjoying GTA Online against unwanted toxicity and harassment."

The article, released shortly after the GTA Online Agents of Sabotage update dropped, further reads that player reports, the rather traditional method of reactive moderation, often fall short of promptly addressing issues that can arise in a game with size and scope such as this.

"Traditional reactive moderation methods, relying on player reports, often fall short in promptly addressing the kinds of issues that can arise in a game of this size and scope."

By the same token, ToxMod helps flag "problematic voice chat interactions", allowing moderators to review and take action against them if required.

"ToxMod revolutionizes the content moderation process by proactively flagging problematic voice chat interactions to moderators to review and take action if needed."

It is quite interesting to note that, as per Modulate's article in question, ToxMod is tuned to the game's community guidelines, and uses advanced machine learning to distinguish between trash talk and intentional harassment.

Back in December 2023, Rockstar Games released an FAQ on its support website about the integration of voice chat moderation in GTA Online. That FAQ also mentioned that while "friendly competitive talk" is allowed, there is no place in the community for hate or bullying.

Rockstar's FAQ on AI voice chat moderation in Grand Theft Auto Online (Image via Rockstar Games)

Rockstar even released new Community Guidelines this year in April, by which time, AI voice chat moderation had been integrated on all compatible GTA Online platforms.

Notably, these new Community Guidelines not only concerned GTA Online, but Red Dead Online (Red Dead Redemption 2's multiplayer) too, encouraging players toward fair play, and building a friendly as well as respectful environment for everyone online. Hence, ToxMod, the AI voice chat moderation tool, seems like an important tool in keeping voice chat-based harassment in check.

Those violating Community Guidelines can face consequences such as account suspensions or even bans. However, that depends on the case, its severity, and the frequency of violations on the concerned player's account.

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Also check: 5 major things added with Agents of Sabotage update