Russia using AI in disinformation campaigns at the Olympics: Microsoft

Russian influencers are using artificial intelligence (AI) in disinformation campaigns targeting the 2024 Paris Olympics, according to for a new report from the Microsoft Threat Analysis Center.

Since last June, Russian actors have sought to tarnish the reputation of the International Olympic Committee (IOC) and sow fears about violence at the upcoming Olympic Games with false videos, images and articles, the report concluded.

A Russian influencer known as Storm-1679 created a fake Netflix documentary using AI-generated audio, imitating the voice of actor Tom Cruise, who criticized the IOC leadership.

The “Olympics Has Fallen” video — which also falsified Netflix’s intro and corporate branding, featured false reviews, and utilized “sleek” computer-generated special effects — suggested that its creators “devoted considerable time to the project and demonstrated more skill than than most influencer campaigns we observe,” according to the report.

Storm-1679 has also produced several videos posing as credible news sources, such as Brussels-based channel Euro News and French broadcaster France24 falsely claiming that Parisians and spectators are concerned about violence at the games.

Likewise, it created fake videos purporting to be from the CIA and a French intelligence agency warning people to stay away from Paris during the games due to the increased risk of terrorism.

In the midst of the war between Israel and Hamas, the group also published images – which Microsoft discovered were likely digitally generated – of graffiti in Paris threatening violence against Israelis attending the Olympic Games, referencing the attack on the Israeli Olympic team at the Olympic Games in Munich 1972.

Another video allegedly created a Turkish ultranationalist group that was amplified by Russian bot accounts that made similar reference to the 1972 Munich attacks and suggested similar attacks in upcoming games.

“Microsoft currently does not have enough information to attribute the video to a specific actor, but its strong amplification by pro-Russian bot accounts suggests the video may be another operation in the broader Olympics campaign,” the report noted.

Other Russian-influenced actors, such as Storm-1099, have also launched campaigns targeting the Paris Olympics, including falsifying French media outlets with false articles criticizing French President Emmanuel Macron.

The disinformation campaigns come after Russian athletes were banned from competing under the Russian flag due to the war in Ukraine. Russian athletes can compete in the 2024 Olympics as neutral individual athletes, but must be vetted to ensure they did not actively support the war.

This story originally appeared on thehill.com read the full story