By Victor Kanayo
There are strong indications that the various social media accounts of the outgoing President of the International Olympic Committee (IOC), Thomas Bach, are under attack.
To this end, the global Olympics body has warned stakeholders that accounts impersonating President Bach have been contacting members of the organisation to obtain sensitive information.
The IOC reported that at least two fake WhatsApp and Telegram accounts, as well as emails, have been contacting high-ranking persons from various walks of life, including senior politicians and Olympic Movement officials.
According to the IOC, the campaign even uses a deep-faked voice purporting to be that of the IOC President, created using Artificial Intelligence (AI).
“The contacted persons are lured into sensitive conversations to gain unauthorised access to their systems.
“The unknown perpetrator has also tried to gain access to Bach’s sensitive data by contacting him and impersonating a high-ranking politician. The attempt was not successful.
“The campaign is wide-ranging and sophisticated, reaching out to an unknown number of high-ranking officials, and the IOC asks everyone to be extremely vigilant if they are contacted.
“The IOC, its President, and the Olympic Games were already part of a widespread disinformation and defamation campaign ahead of the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris,” the advisory said.
The IOC is due for an elective Congress in a few months, when a new President will emerge.
Bach had, in 2024 during the Paris Olympics, announced that he wouldn’t stand for another election, a situation that has led others to indicate their interest in replacing him.
