In October 2019, Russia unveiled its national strategy for Artificial Intelligence (AI), aiming to improve citizens' well-being, boost economic competitiveness, and strengthen national security. The strategy outlines key objectives including supporting AI research, software development, data quality, and personnel training.
However, recent geopolitical events have impacted Russia's AI ambitions. Budget cuts due to COVID-19 and international sanctions have reduced funding for AI projects. The ongoing war in Ukraine has led to a reported tenfold reduction in AI development support and an exodus of IT professionals, potentially hampering progress.
Russia has taken steps to establish a legal framework for AI and digital technologies. The Digital Rights Law, effective October 2019, introduced concepts like digital rights, e-transactions, and smart contracts. Federal Law No. 123-FZ, adopted in April 2020, aims to regulate AI implementation, though it restricts foreign participation. A draft legal framework for AI Technologies and Robotics seeks to eliminate excessive legal barriers.
In October 2022, the Russian State Duma passed a bill to regulate AI development through public-private partnerships, potentially expanding government involvement in the sector.
Russia's data protection landscape includes constitutional protections, adherence to Council of Europe Convention 108, and federal laws like the Law on Personal Data of 2006. The data protection agency, Roskomnadzor, interprets and enforces these regulations.
However, human rights organisations have raised alarms over Russia's expanding use of facial recognition technology. Plans include equipping over 43,000 schools with "Orwell" facial recognition cameras and deploying the technology across Moscow's network of nearly 200,000 surveillance cameras. There are also plans to expand facial recognition in public transport and other cities.
Critics argue these systems violate citizens' privacy and could be used to suppress dissent. The BBC reported that facial recognition is now being used to track military conscripts in Moscow.
Russia endorsed the G20 AI Principles in 2019 and voted for the UNESCO Recommendation on the Ethics of AI. However, implementation of these principles remains questionable given recent developments.
Russia's human rights record has faced increasing scrutiny. The country is no longer a member of the Council of Europe as of March 2022 and ceased to be a party to the European Convention on Human Rights in September 2022. Freedom House rates Russia as "not free," citing concerns over political rights and civil liberties.
Russia opposes international efforts to ban Lethal Autonomous Weapons Systems (LAWS) and has reportedly used such weapons in the Ukraine conflict. The country has publicised its development of combat robots and autonomous drones, raising ethical concerns among international observers.
The country's approach to AI raises concerns about privacy, human rights, and the ethical use of autonomous weapons. As geopolitical tensions persist, the international community will likely continue to scrutinise Russia's AI developments and their potential implications.
This country report is our interpretation and summary of the "CAIDP Artificial Intelligence & Democratic Values Index 2023". The full report can be found here - https://www.caidp.org/reports/aidv-2023/