The Olympics and the battle against fake news

In an article in this Sunday's Kathimerini, Brussels correspondent George Kakouris writes about how the 2024 Olympics were not only a showcase of athletic prowess but also a battleground for misinformation, with numerous false narratives circulating, particularly from Russian-language websites. These narratives, some of which were tracked by the EU's EUvsDisinfo platform, sought to undermine the credibility of the Games and spread disinformation.

According to the article, the fake news campaign was notably fueled by Russian outlets like Sputnik and the Pravda network, both of which have ties to Kremlin propaganda. These sources spread various false claims, including narratives around the Olympics’ opening ceremony and the participation of athletes like boxer Imane Khelif.

Among the misleading stories were claims that the Olympics' opening ceremony had satanic undertones and that it mocked religious events like the Last Supper. There were also false reports of divine retribution, including a fabricated story that Paris suffered a blackout as punishment from God and that the ceremony's artistic director was struck by lightning.

Imane Khelif, an athlete from Algeria, was targeted by misinformation that falsely claimed she was biologically male or transgender. Russian websites pushed these narratives and were part of a broader effort to discredit her participation, despite no credible evidence to support these claims.

While the EUvsDisinfo platform, part of the European External Action Service's East StratCom Task Force, actively monitored and reported on these disinformation efforts, official EU bodies like the European Commission largely refrained from public comment, suggesting inquiries be directed to the International Olympic Committee (IOC) and French authorities.

This misinformation effort is seen as part of a larger strategy to tarnish the reputation of France and question the security and integrity of the Olympics, a claim supported by investigations from both AFP and Microsoft, which identified Russia and Azerbaijan as key players in these disinformation campaigns.

The Pravda network’s involvement in spreading these falsehoods is notable due to its historic ties to Soviet-era propaganda, highlighting how misinformation tactics have evolved but still draw on old influences.

The EUvsDisinfo team continues to monitor these disinformation campaigns, emphasizing that while not all misinformation can be directly linked to the Kremlin, the patterns and narratives often align with pro-Kremlin messaging.

This concerted spread of false information reflects ongoing geopolitical tensions and the use of media manipulation as a tool to influence public perception on the global stage, particularly in the context of significant international events like the Olympics.