Russias Digital Ministry Advances Second Initiative to Combat Cyber Fraud and Deepfake Threats

The Ministry of Digital Development of the Russian Federation is preparing a second package of measures to combat cyber fraud. This was announced by Minister Maksut Shadayev during a plenary session of the State Duma. According to him, the new draft law will target drop services, artificial intelligence technologies, and other innovative tools exploited by fraudsters.

Shadayev mentioned that the first package, which consists of 30 measures, was already adopted by the State Duma on March 18, 2025. However, he stated that it does not fully address the issues related to drop services and deepfakes. The minister emphasized that deepfakes represent one of the most complex challenges currently faced by the agency. He explained that the next phase of deception involves calls from «close relatives,» where both the voice and image are faked. Such scams are particularly hazardous as, according to him, people tend to be trusting and may easily succumb to requests for money transfers.

Shadayev added that he hopes to enhance the current draft law rapidly before the second reading, but it is crucial to keep pushing forward, which is why a second package is in preparation.

Deputy Minister Ivan Lebedev also confirmed that the existing draft law does not fully resolve the issue of drop services. He pointed out that it is essential to develop a separate initiative as quickly as possible and submit it for consideration. According to him, deepfakes are regarded as the second most serious problem by the ministry. Lebedev noted that when a person calls and their image and voice match the real individual, trust is granted automatically. In such cases, citizens might engage, believe them, and transfer money. He stressed that this situation must be avoided at all costs.

The State Duma has already passed the draft law aimed at combating phone and internet fraud during its first reading. State Duma Chairman Vyacheslav Volodin announced that the second reading could take place on March 25, with the final adoption of the law expected by the end of the month.

The development of the first package of measures began in late 2024. It includes provisions such as prohibiting the use of foreign messaging services by government employees and digital companies when communicating with clients, mandatory labeling of calls from organizations and foreign numbers, and the use of biometrics to safeguard profiles on marketplaces.