At SPIEF, Global Cyber Threats Take Center Stage

As the St. Petersburg International Economic Forum (SPIEF) kicked off on June 18, it doubled as an international nerve center for discussions around one of the planet’s most pressing frontiers: cyber threats powered by AI

Cybersecurity leaders and global stakeholders gathered to confront a new breed of digital risks—from synthetic disinformation and AI-driven fraud to weaponized botnets. Vinay Kumar, president of the CyberPeace Foundation, told REN TV that nations are not only drafting countermeasures—but assembling full-scale cyber armies capable of launching coordinated DDoS attacks on critical infrastructure.

Deepfakes and algorithmically amplified misinformation emerged as high-priority concerns. “Cybercrime is evolving faster than ever,” Kumar warned, adding that a unified global response is no longer optional—it’s essential.

This year’s SPIEF reinforced its status as more than just an economic forum. With over 20,000 guests from 140 countries, it’s becoming a diplomatic arena for tackling the digital wildfires of the AI era.