Paris issues an urgent warning against a potential Russian attack on the Olympics.
Over the next six weeks, the summer Olympic Games will kick off in Paris. The French government knows the potential risks that come with hosting such a large-scale event, and they're anticipating threats mainly from Russia. Rumors and fake news about potential attacks are already circulating.
Security experts are warning that the Summer Olympics in Paris could face several challenges. These may include spreading fear among attendees about the possibility of terror or other dangers, damaging the reputation of the Games, and disrupting their course. Some of these attempts at destabilization are already underway in France, and are being attributed to Russia. President Emmanuel Macron has previously stated that Moscow will attempt to interfere in various ways with the Games. French authorities have been preparing for these threats for some time.
The Microsoft Threat Analysis Center has identified two Russian online platforms, "Storm-1679" and "Storm-1099," which have been spreading false information about the Paris Olympics for over a year. One example of this is a film titled "Olympics Has Fallen," which falsely claims to be a Netflix production. The goal is to create fear among visitors about potential violence at the Games.
These platforms are also disseminating video clips in French, suggesting a threat to Israeli visitors due to the ongoing Gaza conflict. They also claim that there is graffiti in Paris implying that violence against Jewish athletes, like what happened at the 1972 Olympic Games in Munich, is imminent. Macron is portrayed in these fake news sources as a president who boasts about the Games while ignoring the population's social problems.
Russia denies involvement
Russia has a history of attempting to undermine the Olympics, according to the analysis. "If they cannot participate in the Games or win, they try to undermine the international competition in the minds of participants, spectators, and the global public, to defame and discredit it."
There's also been speculation that Russian President Vladimir Putin and the Kremlin are upset with the International Olympic Committee (IOC) for excluding Russia from the Games, which could lead to further interference. Microsoft warns of campaigns on social media by bots and Russian agents, as well as potential disruptions on site during the Games.
The IOC reported on targeted Russian campaigns of disinformation and defamation against the organization and President Thomas Bach months ago.
Russia has denied these accusations. In a statement from the Russian embassy in Paris, they called the news "Russophobic disinformation" in the French media. Russia does not interfere in France's internal affairs and has more important priorities.
Besides Russia, other state actors, including Iran and Azerbaijan, are believed to pose a threat to the Paris Games. Azerbaijan holds a grudge against France for supporting Armenia in the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict. The Ukraine war and Middle East conflict are expected to result in cyber attacks on the Olympics, as activists look to take advantage of the international attention. Groups connected to the Iranian government are capable of carrying out more serious hacking attacks.
"The followers of the Islamic State (IS) and Al-Qaeda in Europe are likely to attack the Olympics in Paris," says a report by Recorded Future on the concrete danger of attacks. Due to security measures and a high level of alert, successful attacks have become less likely.
The French authorities have been taking measures for some time to deal with cyber attacks during the Olympics. The national cybersecurity agency ANSSI started developing a strategy to counter attacks two years ago. This strategy includes protecting various actors and systems, as well as prevention and the ability to respond to specific attacks during the Games. The French government has announced that they are prepared to address these potential threats.
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