Russia Is Building a “Digital Grandchild” to Protect Seniors from Scammers
A new project aims to create a social-tech network of trust that shields elderly Russians from the growing wave of cybercrime.
Russia is developing a system called “Digital Grandchild”—a nationwide initiative designed to help older adults fend off cybercriminals. The idea, explained by Elina Sidorenko, head of the NGO White Internet and a member of the Presidential Council for Civil Society and Human Rights, is simple: every senior citizen is paired with a trusted “grandson” or “granddaughter” who can verify suspicious calls or messages.
Building Digital Confidence for Seniors
According to Sidorenko, the “Digital Grandchild” is part of a social and technical infrastructure of trust, designed to reduce seniors’ vulnerability to fraud and help them feel more confident in the digital space. University students have already expressed interest in joining the project, which will be rolled out through local municipalities and social support centers.
The initiative also ties into Russia’s state services portal, Gosuslugi, where users can now add a trusted contact to help confirm password recovery via text message. The designated person won’t have access to the account itself but will be able to quickly verify requests—another layer of protection meant to make the digital world a little safer for Russia’s elderly population.
