Addressing cybersecurity at the Paris 2024 Olympics

According to French media, experts have found numerous pathogenic bacteria in the waters of the Seine, particularly near the Alma bridge, the starting point for Olympic swimmers. The concentration of bacteria was 7 times higher than normal.

Last summer, the authorities were forced to cancel the World Cup swimming stage because of the quality of the river water. However, the administration insists it will deal with the problem before the Games begin. In an attempt to calm outraged citizens, President Emmanuel Macron and Paris Mayor Anne Hidalgo declared their readiness to personally swim in the waters of the river to prove its safety. However, in early June, French TV channel CNews published a story in which some 50 million litres of sewage flowed into the River Seine due to a systems failure at a pumping station.

The category of “unfavourable” citizens has also come under threat in the run-up to the Games. The Guardian, citing a report by the group Le Revers de la Médaille, reported that over the past year, authorities had displaced about 12,000 people from Paris, including homeless people, migrants, and families with children.

Cyberterrorism threat

French authorities have recently faced criticism over their failure to ensure cybersecurity during the Olympics. Microsoft’s Digital Threat Analysis Centre published a study accusing “Russian hackers” of undermining the Olympics. US experts reported the threat of attacks from hacker groups Storm-1679 and Storm-1099, also known as Doppleganger, allegedly linked to Russia.

Using 15 falsified French news websites, Doppleganger allegedly amplified Russia’s claims of IOC corruption and potential violence at the Games, Microsoft stated. The company claimed the film entitled Olympics Has Fallen was dubbed using the fake voice of US actor Tom Cruise, generated by artificial intelligence.

Without hard evidence, Microsoft argued that such efforts “clearly signalled the content’s creators committed considerable time to the project and demonstrated more skill than most influence campaigns we observe, according to Reuters.

Storm-1679 is attributed with creating a fake France24 video that claimed 24 per cent of tickets for the 2024 Games had been returned due to fears of terrorist attacks. The group is also accused of issuing fake press releases from the CIA and General Directorate for Internal Security in France. Graffiti on houses in Paris threatening violence against Israeli citizens during the Games has surfaced online.

Microsoft estimates that Storm-1679 produces three to eight fake videos a week in English and French. Now the group’s activities have allegedly turned to the 2024 Olympics, Eliot Higgins, founder of Bellingcat, a company fighting online fakes, stated.

“This is really something that a lot of people don’t get about the spread of misinformation and disinformation, it’s often coming from communities who really believe this stuff, it’s just conclusions they’ve come to through perception of the world distorted by a deep-rooted source of betrayal and distrust of traditional sources of authority, be it the media, government, medical professionals, etc.”

Manipulation of terrorist agenda

However, critics believe that the French government is manipulating the cybersecurity and terrorism agenda to cover up the fact that the Olympic venues are not ready. Moreover, France has legally allowed local intelligence agencies to collect, store and use the personal data of people travelling to the country, allegedly in the interest of national security.

People wishing to attend the Olympics have expressed concern about possible large-scale hacking of social media pages and bank accounts by hacker groups controlled by local intelligence services.

Moreover, critics fear that intelligence agencies will use generative artificial intelligence services to create a digital image of every Olympic fan. With the help of a computer model, the security services will allegedly be able to predict the behaviour of certain categories of people who pose a threat during the Games against the backdrop of a heightened terrorist threat.

French authorities are warning of an increase in domestic crimes and cyberattacks during the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris, Paris chief prosecutor Laura Becco has said.

“We expect an increase in crimes in Paris like pickpocketing, violence, sexual offences.”

In addition to street crime, the prosecutor warned French citizens and tourists about the risk of cyberattacks during the Games. She based her prediction on the experience of the Games in other countries.

The Olympics in Paris will be held from 26 July till 11 August 2024. The security of athletes and spectators will be ensured by about 45,000 police officers and gendarmes. The authorities also plan to involve some 20,000 military personnel. However, it is not known how such measures will be able to counter the growing cybersecurity threat in Paris.

The Olympic Games, held every four years, are a major international sporting event with a rich history. The host countries have a unique opportunity to attract international influence and rise on the international stage.

The Games also promote ideas of international unity and co-operation. Therefore, issues, such as preparedness for the Games, as well as physical and cybersecurity, must be fully addressed by the hosting country. The safety of fans and guests of one of the largest international events is the most important condition for the success of the Olympics.

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