The Russian Ministry of Council aims to completely eradicate cyber abuse by the year 2025, as per Deputy Minister of Digital Development Ivan Lebedev’s statement during a meeting in the Federation Council. Lebedev highlighted that the battle against cyber criminals extends beyond individual perpetrators to organized fraudulent groups, often with backing from hostile states.
Lebedev stressed the necessity of a fresh, effective approach to combat this menace. While specifics from closed-door meetings were not disclosed, the deputy minister affirmed that the agency has a clear plan of action to resolve the issue by 2025.
Previously, the government had submitted a bill to the State Duma geared towards shielding citizens from phone and internet scams. The proposed legislation encompasses around thirty measures geared towards enhancing the safety of Russian citizens. A pivotal component of the bill is the establishment of a database of scammers within the Antifrod State Information System. This database will aid in swift identification of cyber attackers, thereby preventing identity theft and fraudulent activities.
Furthermore, the bill includes provisions for labelling suspicious calls on mobile device screens and imposes restrictions on communications between banks, government entities, citizens, and foreign messaging platforms to deter fraudsters. Moreover, mobile users in Russia will have the ability to block international calls, opt out of advertising messages, and restrict issuance of SIM cards without personal presence.