"Is your password as strong as the scrum at Stade Rochelais?" The two-time reigning European champion and the gendarmerie of Charente-Maritime launch this Wednesday, May 31 on social networks a new campaign to fight against cybercrime. The idea? Rely on rugby players to spread three prevention messages, simple tips and the right addresses to inform and defend against online harassers.
If the first visual questions the complexity of passwords, the other two touch on much more sensitive and complex subjects such as nudes – nude photos – or digital raids in packs. The gendarmerie of Charente-Maritime who worked six months on this campaign with the Stade Rochelais has imagined the type of comments that can be confronted with professional players. "Another pipe recruited at a golden price," reads winger Jules Favre, alone in front of his screen.
"These words were invented but are very close to reality, messages that players can receive after a game. Like them, everyone is concerned, "says Lieutenant-Colonel Sébastien Letellier of the gendarmerie group of Charente-Maritime. His message? "If you are a victim, don't isolate yourself. Talk about it around you and file a complaint, "insists this soldier who has enlisted players and gendarmes – all volunteers – to illustrate this campaign.
Shared values
The Stade Rochelais and the gendarmerie, which share "the same values", had already concluded a first partnership in spring 2021 to denounce sexist and sexual violence. In addition to the prevention campaign, their joint commitment also aims to raise awareness among the club's 800 or so members, both professionals and amateurs.
"Our most media-savvy players are sometimes easy prey. But we also have an educational role to play with our young people and the duty to raise awareness about cybercrime, a social issue that we take very seriously," confirms Claire Delaume, CSR (Corporate Social Responsibility) Manager at Stade Rochelais.
