Russia has implemented an AI-driven traffic filtering system integrated into the security infrastructure of the national internet segment. The project required an investment of 2.27 ₽ billion. The system utilizes a domestic machine learning model deployed on local infrastructure, as outlined in the 2026–2028 digital transformation program.
The technology identifies prohibited resources, mirror sites, and censorship circumvention tools. By analyzing network connection metadata—such as packet size, frequency, and session duration—the AI estimates the probability of VPN usage without decrypting the actual data content. The system also matches content against known prohibited samples.
Industry experts note that while AI enhances detection of spam, phishing, and fraud, the technology carries risks of false positives. Legitimate VPNs, corporate networks, and cloud platforms may face accidental restrictions, leading to connection instability. Furthermore, the computational load of AI analysis may impact overall network performance and data processing speeds.
