The assistance includes intelligence sharing and direct cyber support between the U.S. and France, efforts made increasingly important following malign interference linked to Russia at previous Olympic Games in the past decade. | Pascal Le Segretain/Getty ImagesThe Biden administration is lending a hand to French authorities to defend against potential cyberattacks and disinformation threats to the upcoming Summer Olympic Games in Paris, as concerns mount that Russia is seeking to interfere.
Anne Neuberger, White House deputy national security adviser for cyber and emerging technology, said at an event hosted by Semafor last month that she had recently spoken with her “French counterparts,” and that partnerships between U.S. and French intelligence and cyber defense agencies are “working actively” to defend the games.
According to Victor Ploué, press relations officer at ANSSI, this has included identifying around 500 companies and organizations involved in hosting the games that require some form of protection from cyber and physical threats. Some of the most high-level groups have received audits to identify cyber weaknesses, while around 300 of the less involved groups have been the subjects of a cyber education campaign.
In the past, Russian hackers posed as North Korean hackers to disrupt drone and telecast operations during the opening ceremony of the 2018 Winter Olympics in Pyeongchang, South Korea. | Richard Heathcote/Getty Images