The company Microsoft warned that Russia has increased the disinformation campaign aimed at the Paris2024 Olympic Games, aiming, in particular, to increase fears of violent acts during the event.
The Microsoft Threat Analysis Center (MTAC), managed by the North American technology giant, referred to two Russian-influenced groups, Storm-1679 and Storm-1099, which combine “old techniques with artificial intelligence to carry out harmful activities”.
The campaign aims, among other things, to defame France, the French President, Emmanuel Macron, as well as the International Olympic Committee (IOC), according to a message published on Sunday on the Microsoft portal.
According to MTAC, the Storm-1679 group has been publishing videos containing false information online in an attempt to “sow fear to dissuade spectators from attending the Games”.
One of the videos, produced in a similar way to content on the news television channel France 24, falsely claims that 24% of tickets sold were later returned due to fears of an attack during the Games.
According to the terms and conditions of sale, tickets for the Paris2024 Olympic Games cannot be returned.
At the beginning of April, the Games organizing committee said that nine million tickets had already been sold.
Another video released by the Storm-1679 group, which claims to be a message from the main US intelligence agency, the CIA, and the French Directorate General of Internal Security, advises cybernauts not to o traveled to France due to the risk of attack.
According to MTAC, the other group, Storm-1099, created a network of 15 portals, which appear to be legitimate means of communication, with content written in French.
These platforms also warn of possible attacks during the Games, criticizing Macron and the French Government, in particular, for being indifferent to the problems of the French.
The MTAC said it expects Russia’s disinformation activities to intensify, particularly in French but also in English, German and other languages, as the opening ceremony approaches.
The Paris2024 Olympic Games officially begin on July 26th and end on August 11th, with 54 Portuguese athletes already qualified so far.
The IOC has repeatedly denounced a “disinformation and defamation campaign led by Russia”.
In June 2023, the Storm-1679 group published on the Internet a supposed anti-IOC documentary titled “The Olympics Have Fallen”, inspired by the 2013 film “Assault on the White House”, and using artificial intelligence to imitate the voice of the American actor Tom Cruise.
At the beginning of April, the French President assured that he had no doubts that Russia is targeting the Olympic Games, especially “in informational terms”.
