PARIS: The Paris Olympics are gearing up to combat an extraordinary level of cyber threats, deploying artificial intelligence (AI) for the first time to enhance their defence measures.
John Hultquist, an analyst at Mandiant Consulting, highlighted the diverse range of potential threats facing the Games, including criminal groups, state-sponsored attacks, ideological “hacktivists,” and even internal threats from athletes or gamblers. The vast scope of these risks underscores the serious security challenge ahead.
During the Tokyo Olympics in 2021, Japanese telecom company NTT reported a staggering 450 million cyberattacks—double the number during the 2012 London Olympics. Such attacks target a multitude of entities involved in the Games, from broadcasters and sponsors to transportation infrastructure, logistics, and competition venues.
The responsibility for defending against these cyber threats primarily falls on France’s information systems security agency (Anssi) and interior ministry, supported by the cyber defense arm of the defense ministry (Comcyber). Vincent Strubel, the director general of Anssi, emphasized a balanced approach to the threat, neither complacent nor alarmist, with ongoing preparations to enhance security measures leading up to the Games.
The worst-case scenario, as Strubel highlighted, would involve overwhelming but less severe attacks masking a more critical strike targeting critical infrastructure—a scenario that requires vigilance and preparedness.
Geopolitical tensions add complexity to the cyber risk landscape. Suspicions linger around Russia, given its strained relationship with the International Olympic Committee (IOC) and past sports-related attacks. The IOC has raised concerns about Russian disinformation campaigns, and incidents like the 2018 Pyeongchang Winter Games cyberattack attributed to Russian military intelligence underscore ongoing threats.
Adding to the complexity is the emergence of powerful AI, democratizing technology that can be leveraged by both defenders and adversaries. While AI enhances data analysis and threat detection capabilities, it also expands the playing field for adversaries, posing challenges for resource-strapped defense efforts.
Potential cyber targets extend beyond Olympic venues to critical infrastructure, transportation networks, utilities, and media coverage systems. Disruption of broadcast services represents a high-risk scenario, impacting global visibility of the Games.
Betsy Cooper, cybersecurity expert at the Aspen Institute, emphasizes the need for data compartmentalization, highlighting the importance of traditional backups and manual scorekeeping to mitigate risks posed by AI-driven attacks.
As the Paris Olympics approach, the convergence of cybersecurity challenges, geopolitical tensions, and AI advancements underscores the necessity for robust defense strategies to safeguard the integrity and security of the Games.
