Russia is stepping up its communications surveillance ahead of the Winter Olympics in Sochi, measures that some warn could mean privacy and security breaches for those attending the Games.

Russian President Vladimir Putin aims to make the Games, set to take place in the Black Sea resort of Sochi in February 2014, a showcase of Russia's modern face to the world 23 years after the fall of the Soviet Union.

Spending on the February Games is expected to pass $50 billion (£31.09 billion), security services have installed video cameras around the city and plan to use drones at the Games to keep watch over the sprawling venues that reach from the Black Sea coast, where skating events will be held, to the Caucasus Mountains.

According to a group of Russian investigative journalists, however, Russia will also be using the Games as an opportunity to increase surveillance on its own citizens and visitors - a move they warn could mean breaches in privacy and security.

Under an order drafted by the Communications Ministry, providers would have to install equipment that would record and save all internet traffic for at least 12 hours and grant the security services exclusive access to the data.

The draft order, made public at the end of October, and set to go into effect in July if it receives final government approval, is likely to deepen concerns over tighter surveillance of the Internet, where debate is much freer than in Russia's conventional media and which security officials have said should be better controlled.

Presented by Adam Justice