The Artemy Lebedev design studio created a neural network capable of creating its own designer logos. The AI was being developed in strict secrecy by a team of computer wizards working in isolation. The artificial intelligence itself was only known to the rest of the design bureau as ‘Nikolay Ironov’ – a pretty ordinary Russian …
How a Russian AI ‘graphic designer’ fooled the world for an entire year Read More
Major changes took place in late June on the Russian e-commerce and e-payment scenes. Yandex, the Russian Internet major, and Sberbank, the state-controlled financial and technology giant, announced an agreement “to reorganize their two joint ventures” – Yandex.Market and Yandex.Money. In plain language, this is a divorce. Yandex is to own entirely the e-commerce platform …
While divorcing with Sberbank, Yandex raises $1 billion to finance e-commerce projects Read More
In what could put an end to a long saga, the US Securities and Exchange Commission announced today that it “obtained court approval of settlements with Telegram and its subsidiary TON Issuer Inc.” “Without admitting or denying the allegations in the SEC’s complaint, the defendants consented to entry of a final judgment enjoining them from …
In a televised address to the nation Tuesday, Putin also announced big tax cuts for the IT sector, apparently a bid to “turn Russia into India” by using tax incentives to attract and retain tech entrepreneurs. Putin claimed that, even in the midst of a pandemic, it was clear how the Russian IT sector has …
Yesterday a court in Moscow upheld the house arrest of Baring Vostok founder Michael Calvey on fraud charges despite the revelation that he has a malignant tumor. The US businessman faces embezzlement charges that he says are being used to pressure him in a business dispute. A Moscow court had ruled last month to extend the house …
US investor Michael Calvey kept under house arrest despite cancer revelation Read More
Kaspersky researchers have uncovered a new technique for stealing users’ payment information on online shopping websites, dubbed web skimming. By registering for Google Analytics accounts and injecting these accounts’ tracking code into the websites’ source code, attackers can collect users’ credit card details. Web skimming is a popular practice used by attackers to steal users’ credit …
Kaspersky researchers found a new fraudulent technique that steals online payment details Read More
DMarket, a Ukraine-born startup that uses blockchain to build “a user-owned gaming economy,” has just attracted $6.5 million in equity funding. The round was led by Almaz Capital with participation from video game company Xsolla. No details of the deal were disclosed. Now headquartered in California, DMarket has developed a platform that “enables transparent and secure buying, selling, and …
Almaz Capital leads $6.5 million for in-game item trading platform DMarket Read More
Roskomnadzor, the Russian Internet and telecom authority, announced today that it is lifting restrictions on access to Telegram. The regulator cited “Telegram’s readiness to combat terrorism and extremism” and referred to an agreement with the federal prosecutors. Earlier this month, as reported by Meduza, Telegram’s founder Pavel Durov urged the authorities to unblock Telegram and let its …
After failing to enforce ban, Russia unblocks Telegram Read More
Sberbank, the Russian state-controlled financial and technology giant, is extending its empire to mapping services with the acquisition of a 72% stake in 2GIS. The deal, just announced, valued the company at 14.3 billion rubles ($205 million at the current exchange rate). Its approval by the antimonopoly authorities is expected in the third quarter of this …
Sberbank to acquire leading mapping service 2GIS at $205 million valuation Read More
Twitter has suspended 1,152 accounts linked to the Russian authorities for carrying out “information operations.” According to he company, the blocked Russian accounts are associated with the media website “Current Policy” (“Aktualnaya Politika”), which is engaged in state-backed political propaganda within Russia. The network of accounts was suspended for “cross-posting and amplifying content in an …
Twitter suspends more than 1,000 Russian accounts for state-backed propaganda Read More
The Russian Ministry of Economic Development has sent a letter to the State Duma, the lower house of the Federal Assembly of Russia, criticizing the bill that seeks to ban cryptocurrency in the country. Local publication Kommersant reported Wednesday that it has seen the letter. Russian officials detailed that the bill proposes a complete ban on the …
On June 9, the online ride-sharing service “Yandex.Taxi” fired a driver from Bryansk, who refused to pick up a Black student from Congo. The incident sparked criticism of the Internet company on social media, with the hashtag #яндекскуколд (in English, “Yandex is a cuckold”) becoming a top trending topic on Twitter in Russia. Many users …
