Russia’s Ministry of Digital Development Unveils Second Wave of Measures Against Cyber Fraud

The Russian Ministry of Digital Development is currently preparing a second set of measures to combat cyber fraud, as announced by the Minister, Maksut Shadaev, during a plenary session of the State Duma. According to him, the new legislative proposal will target drop services, artificial intelligence-based technologies, and other emerging tools exploited by scammers.

Shadaev pointed out that the first package, which consists of 30 initiatives, was already adopted by the State Duma on March 18, 2025. However, he indicated that it does not fully address the issues related to drop services and deepfakes. The Minister emphasized that deepfakes present one of the most significant challenges currently facing the department. He explained that the next level of deception involves calls from «close relatives,» where both the voice and image are manipulated. Such scams are particularly dangerous, as, according to him, people tend to be trusting and can easily fall for requests to transfer money.

Shadaev further stated that he aims to refine the existing legislation ahead of its second reading as soon as possible, but it is crucial not to stop there, which is why a second package is in the works.

Ivan Lebedev, the Deputy Head of the Ministry, also confirmed that the current bill does not completely resolve the issues with drop services. He noted the necessity of quickly developing a separate initiative for consideration. According to him, the department views deepfakes as the second most serious problem. Lebedev clarified that when an individual calls and their image and voice match someone familiar, trust is established automatically. In such situations, citizens may be inclined to engage and believe the caller, potentially leading to money transfers. He stressed that this must be avoided at all costs.

The State Duma has already passed the bill aimed at combating phone and internet scams in its first reading. The Chairman of the State Duma, Vyacheslav Volodin, mentioned that the second reading could occur on March 25, and the final passage of the law may take place by the end of the month.

The development of the first package of measures began in late 2024. It included various solutions, such as a prohibition on the use of foreign messaging apps by government employees and digital firms when communicating with clients, mandatory call labeling from organizations and international numbers, as well as the implementation of biometric security for profiles on marketplaces.