Microsoft uncovers Russian disinformation campaign targeting Paris Olympics
Paris Olympics
Microsoft warns Russia is trying to undermine the Paris Olympics with fake news and violence fears, damaging the International Olympic Committee's image.
The operations utilise a powerful mix of fake videos, fictitious news stories, and AI-generated impersonations, including the faked voice of Hollywood star Tom Cruise.
"Russia is ramping up these slander campaigns against France and President Emmanuel Macron, the IOC, and the Paris Olympics," said Clint Watts, general manager of the Microsoft Threat Analysis Center, in a blog post Sunday (June 2).
"This disinformation campaign isn't new for Russia, but Microsoft warns their tactics are evolving. They're using old tricks alongside artificial intelligence, and these efforts could escalate as the Paris Olympics draw near," he added.
Two prolific Russian cyber-actor groups, Storm-1679 and Doppelganger, have pivoted operations over the past year to directly target the Olympics.
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Their activities escalated in June 2023 with the release on Telegram of a feature-length fake documentary titled "Olympics Has Fallen."
Using AI-generated Tom Cruise impersonations, dazzling CGI, and a seemingly authentic marketing campaign to discredit the IOC, this elaborate effort aims to chip away at global enthusiasm for the Games.
Storm-1679 has also repeatedly manufactured and amplified fictionalised videos, news clips, and press statements falsely claiming that fears of terrorism have sparked a wave of ticket cancellations and property insurance purchases among Parisians.
Microsoft informed that it suspected that Russian groups were behind the circulation of forged graffiti images threatening a repeat of the 1972 Munich Olympic massacre of Israeli athletes by Palestinian militants.
As the July 26 Opening Ceremony looms, Microsoft predicts the Russian disinformation attack will intensify across more languages and media formats.
Notably, Macron in April said he had "no doubt" that Russia was targeting the Paris Olympics including with disinformation.
The Kremlin "is feeding every day the idea that we can't do this or that, that there's a risk," Macron said.
(With inputs from agencies)