Russia-supported threat actors, facing exclusion from international sports due to doping scandals and the invasion of Ukraine, are escalating disinformation campaigns against the upcoming Summer Olympics. The Microsoft Threat Analysis Center (MTAC) indicates a focus on using AI and tactics like releasing a film slandering the IOC and spreading fake news about potential violence in Paris during the games. Russian actors have been targeting the Olympics for the past year, using fake videos and news reports to create fear and undermine the event’s integrity. MTAC warns that these campaigns are expected to increase in the weeks leading up to the Olympics. They will likely expand to different languages and utilize AI to generate more convincing fake content online. The goal is to sow doubt and fear surrounding the Olympics, potentially through staged events or protests near the venues. Microsoft is dedicated to monitoring and countering these disinformation campaigns to protect the integrity of the 2024 Summer Olympics in Paris.
Russia deployed fake AI Tom Cruise as part of Olympic disinformation campaign
