Immersive cybersecurity performance concludes the "Digital Solutions" Forum at the National Centre RUSSIA
The five-day programme of the year's leading IT event at the National Centre RUSSIA concluded with the immersive performance "Cyber Court". The unusual event on the final day of the "Digital Solutions" Forum was held on 10 October and explored interaction between people and technology. The performance was supported by the Alliance for the Protection of Children in the Digital Environment.
The courtroom-style performance examined five cases, each featuring the internet, artificial intelligence or technology — sources of potential cyberthreats — as either the defendant or the prosecutor. The main characters — Judge Fedichkin and the defence and prosecution representatives, Dobrina and Prishchepkin — examined common situations from the digital world and invited the audience to answer the central question: who is responsible for what happens to us and our children online?
The audience served as the jury. Rather than simply watching what was happening on stage, viewers could debate, analyse and deliver their own verdict by voting after discussing the arguments presented by the defence and prosecution.
The "Cyber Court" performance addressed key issues faced by internet users, including digital footprints, catfishing, aggressive online advertising, digital twins, password authentication and even the influence of artificial intelligence on raising children. According to the audience, the immersive format allowed them to engage much more deeply with the performance's central messages.
"I thought it would be just a performance, but halfway through I realised that I was voting in earnest — as if something really depended on my decision. My main conclusion was that technology itself is not to blame, provided we use it correctly and teach our children to do the same," audience member Alina Bespalova said.
The Alliance for the Protection of Children in the Digital Environment is Russia's first industry association established by leading IT and media companies to create a safe and comfortable online environment for children.
The country's annual "Digital Solutions" IT Forum was held from 6 to 10 October at the National Centre RUSSIA. It brought together representatives of government, business and the IT community. The business programme featured more than 120 sessions with over 700 speakers, while the forum welcomed more than 15,000 visitors. Discussions covered digital infrastructure, platform solutions, artificial intelligence, cloud services, cybersecurity, Russian software, educational platforms and other digital services. Workshops on digital literacy, IT quests, career consultations, career guidance programmes, games and lounge spaces were organised for the general public. The "Digital Solutions" Forum was organised by the Ministry of Digital Development of Russia with the support of the Government of the Russian Federation. The project operator was ANO "National Priorities", while the forum's business programme was operated by ANO "Digital Economy".
The tour was attended by diplomats from 12 countries: Turkey, Ghana, Ethiopia, Brunei, Mongolia, Pakistan, Iraq, Sudan, Cameroon, Cuba, the Republic of Korea and Morocco.
The discussion of advanced technology continued at the Gastronomic Rows with the culinary workshop "Chef and AI: Who Creates the Flavour?".
