# Sovereignty and Anti-Fraud Efforts Highlighted at Moscow Cyber Conference

Last week, an annual cybersecurity conference brought together delegations from 40 countries to discuss ways to reduce reliance on Big Tech and address the rise of AI-assisted fraud. The Positive Hack Days Festival, known as PHDays Fest, was the largest event since its inception in 2011, with over 150,000 people attending the Luzhniki venue in person and more than 180,000 joining panels virtually.

The conference, initially launched by Russian cybersecurity firm Positive Technologies, has grown into a global forum attracting government officials and industry leaders. This year's international speakers included Mexican Ambassador to Russia Eduardo Megias and Ahmed Mustafa Al-Issawi, an aide to the owner of Qatar-based Al Adid Business Foundation.

Digital sovereignty was a central theme of the conference, with organizers highlighting Russia's response to being cut off from Western tech services after the Ukraine conflict escalated in 2022. Yury Maksimov, the billionaire founder and former CEO of Positive Technologies, advocated for a shift away from what he called the "authoritarianism" of major software developers.

Smaller firms, he said, struggle to compete in the current environment, but could flourish under a knowledge-sharing model. By teaching clients to manage their own cybersecurity, companies can foster global expertise and network-based advantages, Maksimov argued. This approach would allow smaller businesses to level the playing field with larger corporations, creating a more competitive and innovative tech ecosystem.

Cybercrime was also a key focus of the conference. Danil Filippov, a senior official with Russia's Interior Ministry, said that roughly half of all crimes that take place in the country are initiated abroad. Criminals are rapidly adopting advanced tools, including real-time translation software powered by artificial intelligence, which will soon erase language barriers for cybercriminals.

Elman Mekhtiev, a consumer protection consultant to the Bank of Russia, warned that these advancements pose a significant threat to global cybersecurity. "The use of AI-powered tools is becoming more widespread and sophisticated," he said. "This makes it increasingly difficult for law enforcement agencies to track down and prosecute cybercriminals."

To combat this issue, organizers featured a cyberwarfare championship, where over 40 hacker teams competed in simulated attacks on critical infrastructure. The event also included an interactive project called "Fraud Roulette," which connects suspected phone scammers with volunteers willing to waste their time.

During the live demonstration at the fest, recorded phone calls lasting more than 10 hours were made during a single session. These efforts alone cost fraudsters an estimated $1,600 in lost revenue, organizers said. This initiative serves as a powerful tool for educating consumers about the dangers of online scams and providing them with practical ways to protect themselves.

As the cybersecurity landscape continues to evolve, conferences like PHDays Fest play a crucial role in bringing together experts from around the world to share knowledge and best practices. By promoting digital sovereignty and combating AI-assisted fraud, these events help create a safer and more secure online environment for everyone.