The Investigative Committee proposed to consider the use of AI and VPN as aggravating circumstances.

      The norm may apply to cyber fraud, terrorism, extremism, and other offenses.

      Photo: taken from the website kremlin.ru

      It is proposed to add a new aggravating circumstance to the Criminal Code — committing a crime using ICT, including AI technologies. This was stated by the head of the Investigative Committee of Russia, Alexander Bastrykin. — Considering that such technologies can currently be used even in the commission of murder, incitement to suicide, sexual acts, lewd acts, terrorism, extremism, and others, the addition of such an aggravating circumstance to the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation seems to be a justified and correct decision, — Interfax reports Bastrykin's words. Bastrykin noted that current legislation already regulates the use of certain software tools, but there is currently no universal norm that increases responsibility for using such technologies for criminal purposes.

      Moritz Erken on Unsplash

      According to him, such technologies can be used in the commission of various crimes: cyber fraud, terrorism, extremism, illegal data trafficking, and attacks on critical information infrastructure. Earlier in Moscow, a top manager was fired for disclosing commercial secrets through DeepSeek.

      Vadim Vakhrushev

      More news about the event:

      The Investigative Committee proposed to consider the use of AI and VPN as aggravating circumstances.

      The norm may apply to cyber fraud, terrorism, extremism, and other offenses.

      Photo: 11:37 28.07.2026 Real Time - Kazan

      The Investigative Committee proposed to tighten penalties for crimes using AI and circumvention services.

      The Investigative Committee of Russia has prepared a draft law to strengthen responsibility for crimes committed using artificial intelligence and circumvention services. 11:36 28.07.2026 Business Online - Kazan

      News from neighboring regions on the topic:

      In Russia, penalties for crimes using AI will be tightened.

      Bastrykin called for recognizing the use of AI as an aggravating circumstance. Photo created with the help of Alice AI.

      The Investigative Committee of Russia has prepared a draft law to tighten criminal liability for the use of AI in crimes. 22:58 28.07.2026 Petrozavodsk Speaks - Petrozavodsk

      Bastrykin proposed to make AI and VPN aggravating circumstances for crimes.

      Photo: photo by Nikolay Gyngazov. Fraudsters and criminals were among the first to adopt artificial intelligence technology. 22:01 28.07.2026 Gorodvo.Ru - Vologda

      Bastrykin proposed to recognize the use of AI and VPN as aggravating circumstances.

      The head of the Investigative Committee, Alexander Bastrykin, proposed amendments to the Criminal Code that would allow the use of information and communication technologies, including VPN and artificial intelligence, to be considered as aggravating circumstances. 20:54 28.07.2026 IA Vysota 102.0 - Volgograd

      In Russia, they want to tighten penalties for crimes if a VPN was used.

      The chairman of the Investigative Committee, Alexander Bastrykin, stated that the use of artificial intelligence, VPNs, proxy servers, and other information technologies in the commission of crimes should become an aggravating circumstance. 04:48 29.07.2026 News.Astv.Ru - Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk

      In the State Duma, they stated that the aggravating role of VPN will not make its use illegal.

      Photo: portal of the mayor and government of Moscow/Maxim Denisov.

      The fact of using VPN and artificial intelligence as aggravating circumstances in the commission of crimes will not make these technologies illegal. 17:36 28.07.2026 M24.Ru - Moscow

      In the State Duma, they called Bastrykin's idea to consider VPN as an aggravating circumstance strange.

      Photo: TASS/Maxim Konstantinov.

      The idea of the head of the Investigative Committee of Russia, Alexander Bastrykin, to consider the use of VPN services as an aggravating circumstance in the commission of crimes is strange. 17:07 28.07.2026 M24.Ru - Moscow

      The Investigative Committee proposed to consider the use of AI and VPN as aggravating circumstances.

      The Investigative Committee of Russia proposed to tighten criminal liability for crimes committed using artificial intelligence, VPN, and other digital technologies. 15:55 28.07.2026 Newsler.Ru - Kirov

      Legislative initiative of Alexander Bastrykin.

      KRASTOYARSKY KRAI, /NIA-KRASNOYARSK/. The use of AI, proxies, and VPN will become an aggravating circumstance for criminals. 18:37 28.07.2026 NIA - Krasnoyarsk

      They want to recognize the use of AI and VPN as aggravating circumstances for crimes in Russia.

      The Investigative Committee of the Russian Federation has prepared a new draft law.

      The Investigative Committee of the Russian Federation has developed a draft law aimed at tightening criminal liability for individuals. 16:52 28.07.2026 IA Amitel - Barnaul

      Bastrykin: the use of AI, proxies, and VPN by Russians will become an aggravating circumstance.

      The Investigative Committee has prepared a draft law to tighten criminal liability for the use of VPN services, artificial intelligence, and proxy servers in the commission of crimes. 18:16 28.07.2026 NIA Khakassia - Abakan

      In Russia, they want to strengthen responsibility for crimes using AI.

      Text: Kirill Ryabinin Photo: A42.RU. In Russia, they want to strengthen responsibility for crimes using AI. Text: Kirill Ryabinin Photo: 16:55 28.07.2026 A42.Ru - Kemerovo

      Bastrykin: The use of AI, VPN, and proxy services by a criminal should be considered as an aggravating circumstance.

      Photo: Maksim Konstantinov/Global Look Press/Global Look Press.

      The head of the Investigative Committee of Russia, Alexander Bastrykin, stated that the use of artificial intelligence... 12:54 28.07.2026 47 News - Leningrad Region

      Bastrykin: the application of AI, proxies, and VPN should be an aggravating circumstance.

      The head of the Investigative Committee of Russia, Alexander Bastrykin, proposed to consider the use of neural networks, proxy servers, and VPN services as aggravating circumstances in the commission of criminal offenses. 12:26 28.07.2026 IA Public News Service - Moscow

      Interview of the Chairman of the Investigative Committee of Russia with the news agency "Interfax".

      Alexander Bastrykin: AI technologies are indispensable in investigating cases but will never replace humans.

      The chairman of the Investigative Committee of Russia, Alexander Bastrykin, spoke in an interview with "Interfax" about the dynamics of investigations. 12:00 28.07.2026 Investigative Committee - Elista

      Bastrykin: Investigators use AI, but it will not replace them and lawyers.

      The head of the Investigative Committee of Russia (SKR), Alexander Bastrykin.

      Photo: © Maksim Konstantinov, GlobalLookPress.

      The chairman of the Investigative Committee of Russia (SKR), Alexander Bastrykin, talked about how investigators use neural networks to solve crimes. 20:58 27.07.2026 47 News - Leningrad Region