With only two days left until the Olympics, France sees a sharp increase in Russian disinformation to discredit France in various ways and raise concerns before the Games.
– We know there have been graffiti comparing the 1972 Munich Olympics, where Israeli athletes were kidnapped and killed by terrorists, to the 2024 Paris Olympics. They say the same thing is at risk of happening now, says Rudy Reichstadt, founder of the organization Conspiracy Watch.
“Matriochka” – the word for Russian dolls – is the Kremlin’s name for the disinformation campaign seen attacking France in recent times.
The campaign consists, among other things, of falsified news articles where it is claimed, for example, that many tourists have canceled their hotels in Paris in fear of terrorist attacks. Even the hysteria surrounding the bedbug invasion last fall could be linked to interference from Russian troll accounts.
Increase in physical attacks as well
In addition to the digital attacks, an increase in physical attacks has also been seen. Like the red hands painted on a Holocaust monument in central Paris and the five coffins, wrapped in French flags, that were recently placed at the Eiffel Tower.
Rudy Reichstadt is the founder of the organization Conspiracy Watch, which works to map conspiracy theories.
– We know there have been graffiti comparing the 1972 Munich Olympics, where Israeli athletes were kidnapped and killed by terrorists, to the 2024 Paris Olympics. They say the same thing risks happening now, he says.
Parisians: May use multiple sources of information
To warn the public, French authorities have recently increased their public condemnation of various influence operations. But for the French, it can still be difficult to tell the difference between fake and genuine information.
Paris resident Delphine Vielle knows that disinformation campaigns have been directed at France.
– I think it can sometimes be quite complicated, especially with new technology such as Deepfake. One must try to use several sources of information, that is the most important thing.