France: Deepfake Targeting Catalina Marchant de Abreu and France 24 Ahead of Paris Olympics
Russian disinformation channels manipulate journalist’s likeness to spread lies
Location: France
Date: July 6, 2024
The deepfake targeting France 24 and journalist Catalina Marchant de Abreu is a serious threat to press freedom and public trust. This attack, coordinated by Russian social media channels, is aimed at discrediting the Paris Olympics and manipulating a respected news organization. This is part of a growing trend of disinformation designed to destabilize public confidence and create chaos before major international events. Such manipulation compromises the integrity of information and jeopardizes the safety of the Olympics. As these disinformation campaigns using deepfake technology increase, social media platforms, security agencies, and the global community must act decisively. Women Press Freedom has noted a rise in malicious deepfake content targeting women journalists since September 2023. We condemn these acts and call for stronger measures to combat these harmful deepfakes. We urge a unified effort to protect press freedom and ensure accurate information dissemination.
On July 6, 2024, Paris-based international broadcaster France 24 became the latest victim of a sophisticated deepfake campaign. A video, widely circulated on the social media platform X, falsely claimed that journalist Catalina Marchant de Abreu had investigated the safety of Paris' water system just weeks before the French capital is set to host the Olympic Games.
Marchant de Abreu is a Brazilian-Chilean journalist who previously worked for CNN. She is the host of France 24's Truth or Fake segment, where she investigates disinformation and fake news spread online.
The fraudulent video, complete with the France 24 logo, depicted Marchant de Abreu supposedly collaborating with French and American microbiologists to examine the water quality in Parisian hotels. It misleadingly reported the presence of dangerous viruses, such as adenovirus and enterovirus, in the city's tap water, attributing this to outdated pipes and inefficient filtration systems.
This deepfake was identified and reported by "Random Osint," a reputable account on X specializing in tracking and debunking fake news. The account, which has nearly 30,000 followers, attributed the video to a Russian propaganda campaign designed to undermine the credibility of the Olympic Games organization in Paris.
On July 5, 2024, another fake video circulated on Russian Telegram channels, falsely claiming that France 24 reported the discovery of a fabric called "David's armor" in Marseille, which allegedly conceals metal objects and poses a security threat for the Paris 2024 Olympics. The video included fabricated quotes from Nicolas Lerner, the director of the Directorate General for External Security (DGSE), who falsely claimed a CIA warning about terrorist threats.
A June 2024 report from Microsoft's Threat Analysis Center highlighted an aggressive Russian disinformation campaign aimed at undermining the International Olympic Committee and inciting fears of violence at the Olympics. Key players in this campaign, including Russian cyber-actor groups Storm-1679 and Doppelganger, have employed fake videos, news stories, and AI-generated impersonations. Their tactics include a fictional documentary titled "Olympics Has Fallen" and narratives suggesting terrorism fears affecting ticket sales and insurance. As the Olympics' Opening Ceremony approaches on July 26, disinformation efforts are expected to intensify, potentially leading to real-world provocations. President Macron has voiced concerns regarding Russia's disinformation targeting the event.
Women Press Freedom strongly condemns these malicious acts and stands in solidarity with France 24 and its journalists. The use of manipulated AI news reports featuring credible journalists must be taken seriously. On the ground, Russian actors might exploit the heightened security focus by staging or creating the illusion of protests and provocations, aiming to undermine confidence in the IOC and French security forces. Real or orchestrated events near Olympic venues could manipulate public perception and incite fear and uncertainty. Media outlets must be clear and consistent in monitoring and reporting on any manipulated and fake news content being spread to sow discord amongst the public. We urge social media platforms, security agencies, and the international community to take robust measures to combat such digital threats, ensuring the protection of press freedom and the credibility of information.
Women Press Freedom is an initiative by The Coalition For Women In Journalism
The Coalition For Women In Journalism is a global organization of support for women journalists. The CFWIJ pioneered mentorship for mid-career women journalists across several countries around the world and is the first organization to focus on the status of free press for women journalists. We thoroughly document cases of any form of abuse against women in any part of the globe. Our system of individuals and organizations brings together the experience and mentorship necessary to help female career journalists navigate the industry. Our goal is to help develop a strong mechanism where women journalists can work safely and thrive.
If you have been harassed or abused in any way, and please report the incident by using the following form.