In a bid to sow disinformation and create fear ahead of the Paris Olympics, Russia has escalated its disinformation operations by circulating a fabricated video that falsely implies a CIA warning about the city's metro. The video, which claims a "high risk" of an attack, originated in Russian channels and has garnered over 100,000 views on social media platforms, including X and Facebook. However, the CIA swiftly discredited the video, stating that it is entirely fabricated and does not reflect the agency's viewpoint.

The fabricated video is the latest in a series of disinformation tactics employed by a Russian disinformation network that was previously exposed by Microsoft in early June. This network had even utilized artificial intelligence to create a fake feature-length film starring Tom Cruise. Clint Watts, the general manager of Microsoft's Threat Analysis Center, revealed that Russian-affiliated actors are actively seeking to spread disinformation, attempting to create the perception of a potential threat of violence during the Olympic Games in Paris.

These operations by the Russian government come amidst the ban on Russian athletes from competing under their national flag due to the country's 2022 full-scale invasion of Ukraine. Watts explained that the ban is likely a motivating factor behind these disinformation campaigns. Furthermore, Russian networks have a long history of engaging in operations related to the Olympic Games.

CBS News conducted an investigation and found that an early version of the deceptive CIA video was initially posted on Telegram, a popular messaging app, by a prominent Russian military blogger with 200,000 followers. The video then spread to sham news websites controlled by a separate Russian disinformation network. From there, it gained traction on various social media platforms, including X, TikTok, Facebook, and LinkedIn, with CBS News estimating that it has been viewed at least 100,000 times.

This disinformation campaign does not end with the fake CIA video. Another video surfaced on Telegram, masquerading as a France24 production, in which a fabricated French official criticizes the CIA for causing public alarm about the supposed terror threat on the Paris metro. CBS News, however, confirmed that the video is also part of the same Russian disinformation network responsible for the previous false videos.

Experts and analysts express concerns over these disinformation campaigns, as they aim to erode public trust in U.S. and European officials. Alexis Prokopiev, co-founder of the French human rights nongovernmental organization Russie-Libertés, believes that this is all part of Russian President Vladimir Putin's strategy to create polarization and generate widespread distrust towards institutions.

The European Union is currently investigating Meta and X for potential law violations related to disinformation ahead of recent elections. Additionally, Telegram is under scrutiny to determine if its large user base would necessitate stronger regulations in Europe. In response to these investigations, Meta confirmed that the fabricated CIA video violated its policies and has been removed from the platform. TikTok also confirmed the removal of the video for breaching its Community Guidelines.

However, researchers and analysts who closely monitor these operations have helped mitigate the impact of these disinformation campaigns. While Russian networks are expected to intensify their tactics closer to the Olympics, researchers are actively tracking and reporting on their activities, limiting the widespread sharing and engagement of their deceptive videos.

With the Paris Olympics just around the corner, it is crucial for the public to remain vigilant and rely on trusted sources for accurate and reliable information, ensuring that disinformation campaigns do not disrupt the spirit and security of the games.