On 11 May ARC experts reported at the Session “Digital threats to civic space” of the OSCE Supplementary Human Dimension Meeting “Safeguarding Civic Space in the Digital Age” on the challenges, related with the Russian aggression, directly connected with the total and permanent usage by Russia of digital threats, such as artificial intelligence, for provocations, pressure, and cyberattacks against human rights defenders and journalists.
Experts stressed that comprehensive analysis of Russian rhetoric, practices, and artificial intelligence campaigns in occupied Crimea reveals the presence of a stable model of Russian propaganda and managerial influence aimed at genocidal calls, racial discrimination, hate speech, and military and imperialistic narratives’ dissemination.
The introduction of artificial intelligence is presented by Russians as alleged “neutral technological modernization,” and algorithmic management tools are described as an alleged “acceptable norm.”
Experts added that the very format of “artificial intelligence’s positions” in the Russian propaganda reinforces the so-called “ideologically correct” and allegedly “desirable” interpretation of events for the occupiers, while artificial intelligence-powered campaigns are used as a tool for “integration” and so-called “normalization” of the occupation regime.
Experts pointed that Russia’s usage of artificial intelligence foresees an absence of independent oversight, the manipulative use of synthetic content, and stylization of materials as the alleged “human activities.”
The ARC experts reminded that in February 2026 the La Coruña Declaration was adopted at the summit in Spain, marking a significant milestone for the usage of artificial intelligence. But Russia actively opposed the La Coruña process and also tried to block the votes for relevant UN General Assembly resolutions.
Russia is doing everything it can to sabotage the work of the UN group of governmental experts who are developing an international treaty on artificial intelligence as well.
Experts pointed that the key challenges of Russia’s usage of artificial intelligence in Crimea and in other Russia-controlled territories are connected, as with counteracting dissidents, human defenders, and activists; as with creating deepfakes with genocidal, militaristic, and racist character; as with controlling faces, trips, and presence in institutions for relevant racial segregation and repressions; and as with creating chemical and bacteriologic weapons also.
In light of this, Crimea is the territory where the occupying state is engaged in developments in the field of artificial intelligence, including so-called “Sevastopol state” and “Crimean federal” univercities.
Russia, as the occupying state, does not recognize any legal or ethical limitations and uses its developments for war against another state, Ukraine, that acts from the position of law and morality.
Uncontrolled Russian activities with artificial intelligence in the “gray area” of international law poses a direct threat to the civilian population, including civil society, both in the occupied territory due to the poor quality of technologies and beyond its borders due to the development of weapons with artificial intelligence.
Another alarming trend is the possibility of using aggressor’s enterprises, including those deployed in Crimea, to test artificial intelligence technologies in the military, propaganda, and sabotage spheres, the development of which is conducted in other countries, including China, Iran, and North Korea.
In this framework ARC experts pointed on the relevant illegal activity of “Kaspersky Lab”, controlled by Russian intelligence and supported by some European corporations, such as TÜV Austria.
On the fields of Session, our experts discussed relevant issues with the OSCE panelists: David Elseroad from Human Rights House Foundation; Alex Haché, expert on digital security; and Ronald Deibert from University of Toronto.
Our Association will continue its own efforts on that issue, describing and reminding OSCE bodies and agencies of facts about Russian aggression and Russia’s illegal usage of artificial intelligence in Russia-occupied territories, including the Crimea, and in the Kremlin’s propaganda.
