Russian President Vladimir Putin has urged the country’s top judicial and law enforcement bodies to scrutinize how artificial intelligence is used in crime investigations. The directive, published on the Kremlin’s official website, signals a formal step toward integrating AI as a tool in criminal inquiries, while also inviting careful evaluation of its effectiveness, limitations, and potential risks. The scope rests on a structured review by the Supreme Court, the police, and other key agencies, with the aim of determining whether AI-driven techniques should be expanded or refined in annual practice. The instruction underscores the need for a clear, evidence-based assessment—one that can lead to practical recommendations for policy and procedure. The period designated for this analysis extends through July 1, 2024, and responsibility for implementation has been assigned to the heads of the relevant law enforcement bodies and the Ministry of Justice, along with the Supreme Court, ensuring high-level accountability within the system (source: Kremlin publication).
Back in November, Putin highlighted a strategic aim: to make the jurisdiction of the Russian Federation among the most favorable environments worldwide for the development of artificial intelligence. During the plenary session of the AI-focused conference titled Journey to the World of Artificial Intelligence, he articulated a broader vision for Russia’s legal and regulatory framework to keep pace with rapid AI advancement. He also signaled the approval of a refreshed edition of Russia’s AI development strategy, signaling a dual track of governance and innovation that emphasizes both risk management and opportunity creation. This emphasis reflects an intent to balance protection of citizens with incentives for research, experimentation, and practical deployment in public administration, law, and security sectors. The President stressed the necessity of aligning legislative processes with the evolving capabilities of AI so that Russia can participate actively in the global AI ecosystem while maintaining robust safeguards (source: Kremlin remarks and official communiqués).
In pursuit of this objective, Putin ordered a substantial boost to the computing infrastructure that supports AI research and deployment. The directive to scale the capacity of Russian supercomputers is framed as a foundational step enabling more sophisticated data processing, faster model training, and improved analytical capabilities across government and industry. Such an upgrade would not only facilitate enhanced crime analysis and predictive insights but also support broader governmental functions, from complex simulations to real-time decision support. The strategic push signals a recognition that advanced computing resources are a critical backbone for AI-driven governance, research, and national security applications, and it is intended to accelerate Russia’s progress in these areas while ensuring that performance remains tightly regulated and subject to oversight (source: presidential decrees and official statements).