Kremlin announces Putin cybersecurity meeting, denies link to data center attacks
In short
Vladimir Putin will hold a cybersecurity meeting on October 14, Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov said. Participants will report behind closed doors on the readiness of key economic sectors for information security threats; Peskov said the meeting was not a direct response to recent data center attacks.
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Russian President Vladimir Putin will hold a cybersecurity meeting on October 14, Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov told reporters. RIA Novosti, Vedomosti, Interfax and Kommersant reported the announcement. Peskov said Putin would devote substantial time to cybersecurity and improving information security alongside a series of non-public meetings. Interfax reported that the president's opening remarks would be delivered publicly before participants gave their reports behind closed doors. [ 4 , 6 , 7 , 10 ]
The reports will assess the readiness of key economic sectors to face information security threats and measures to improve their security, Peskov said. He argued that artificial intelligence technologies bring benefits and greater efficiency but that attempts by some states to turn them into weapons create threats to entire sectors of any country's economy. He said Russia must be prepared for those challenges. The statements describe the Kremlin's assessment and intended agenda; the documents do not include conclusions from the meeting. [ 7 , 10 ]
Asked whether the meeting was connected with attacks on Yandex and Sberbank data centers, Peskov said it was a more systematic meeting and was not linked to those attacks as an immediate response, Interfax reported. Kommersant separately reported drone attacks on a Sberbank data center in Balakovo and three Yandex data centers, while noting Sberbank's statement that its services were functioning normally. Planned participants include Security Council deputy chairman Dmitry Medvedev, council secretary Sergei Shoigu and Deputy Prime Minister Dmitry Grigorenko. Kommersant also listed Central Bank governor Elvira Nabiullina and FSB director Alexander Bortnikov. [ 7 , 10 ]
Why it matters
Peskov said attempts to turn artificial intelligence technologies into weapons could threaten entire sectors of an economy. He described the meeting as a broader assessment of preparedness and measures to improve security.
Key facts
- Putin is scheduled to hold a cybersecurity meeting on October 14. [ 4 , 6 , 7 , 10 ]
- Peskov said Putin's opening remarks would be public, followed by closed reports. [ 7 ]
- The reports will concern readiness of key economic sectors and measures to improve information security. [ 7 , 10 ]
- Peskov said the meeting was not linked situationally to attacks on data centers. [ 7 , 10 ]
Confirmed by several sources
Still unclear
- The meeting's conclusions are not provided. The documents announce a forthcoming meeting and planned reports.