InfoWatch Acquires Web Control DC Team and Rebrands sPACE PAM as InfoWatch Privilege Control
InfoWatch has expanded its product lineup with a privileged access management (PAM) system. The Web Control DC development team will join the group, and its flagship product sPACE PAM will continue under the new name InfoWatch Privilege Control.
The solution is intended to control accounts with elevated rights: system administrators, contractors, external specialists, and business users. Such accounts have access to servers, databases, network equipment, and critical applications, effectively holding keys to nearly all corporate resources. If an account is compromised or its owner decides to misuse privileges, the consequences can be severe.
According to InfoWatch data, around 40% of critical information security incidents in Russia in 2025 were connected to the leakage or unauthorized use of privileged accounts. Another 30% of confirmed cyberattacks occurred through the compromise of IT contractors.
InfoWatch Privilege Control is designed to limit and monitor access of such users to corporate infrastructure. PAM systems allow issuing privileges only for the required time, managing connections, and recording specialist actions so that an administrator account does not become a universal pass for attackers.
The original sPACE PAM system is included in the Russian software registry and certified by FSTEC Russia at the fourth trust level. The product is compatible with domestic operating systems Astra Linux, Alt, and RED OS.
At InfoWatch, the addition of PAM is described as a logical continuation of the data protection platform development. The company will now be able to control not only where information goes but also those who, by their position, are capable of taking it away.
Related articles
How Social Media Recommendation Algorithms Shape Content, Behavior, and Regulation Worldwide
Social media platforms such as TikTok, Instagram, and YouTube rely on sophisticated recommendation systems that analyze user behavior to predict engagement rather than simply ordering posts chronologically. These algorithms form candidate sets and rank content using signals including watch time, likes, comments, and device data, creating personalized feeds that can diverge significantly between users. Research shows mixed effects on political views and mental health, with personalization capable of both amplifying polarization and reducing it depending on optimization goals. Regulatory responses vary: China mandates transparency and youth mode limits on Douyin, the EU's Digital Services Act requires non-profiled alternatives for large platforms, and Russia enforces disclosure rules under Federal Law No. 408-FZ since 2023. Practical steps allow users to reset recommendations and provide negative feedback to retrain feeds. The article debunks myths of dopamine addiction and inevitable radicalization while highlighting both risks and benefits of algorithmic curation.
Russia Proposes 22% VAT and 100-Ruble Customs Fee on All Foreign Online Purchases
The Russian Ministry of Finance has submitted draft amendments to the Tax Code and the federal budget for 2027-2029 that would impose a standard 22% VAT on goods purchased from foreign online stores and marketplaces. In addition, every postal shipment valued at up to 200 euros would incur a separate customs fee of 100 rubles. Electronic trading platforms are designated as tax agents and are expected to pass the new costs directly to buyers through higher final prices. The proposals eliminate the current duty-free threshold for low-value cross-border orders under EAEU rules and replace an earlier plan for gradual VAT increases with an immediate full-rate application. Officials state the measures are intended to create equal competitive conditions for Russian sellers and to further formalize the economy. The changes have not yet been adopted and must still undergo government and legislative review.
VK Tech Rolls Out Unified AI Assistant Across VK WorkSpace Corporate Tools
VK Tech is preparing a unified AI Assistant for its VK WorkSpace platform, along with semantic search and an MCP server to connect autonomous agents. The features target small and medium businesses as well as large corporations by automating routine tasks in messaging, email, and calendar services. Semantic search will allow users to locate documents, emails, and messages by meaning rather than exact titles or phrasing. Meeting recordings will be automatically transcribed with extraction of key topics, decisions, and action items. The AI Assistant launches first in the Messenger module of the On-Premise version, with cloud SaaS availability scheduled for October and later expansion to Mail, Disk, and Calendar. Access remains strictly limited by user permissions and company policies. An MCP server will also be introduced, enabling AI agents to query data, prepare meeting materials, and perform actions inside the platform services, initially supporting Messenger and extending to other modules by year-end.
Russia Weighs Passenger Fees of Up to 1000 Rubles to Fund Domestic Aircraft Leasing
Russian authorities are discussing a new surcharge on air tickets to cover leasing and operating costs of locally produced planes. The proposed fees range from 500 rubles on domestic flights to 1000 rubles on international routes, with some sources mentioning higher figures of 700 and 2000 rubles respectively. The initiative involves the Ministry of Transport, the Ministry of Industry and Trade, and Rostec, though no final decisions on amounts or collection methods have been made. Revenue estimates suggest the measure could generate 68 to 84 billion rubles annually based on 2025 passenger volumes, with total collections targeted at 200-250 billion rubles between 2027 and 2030. Funds would subsidize the gap between high production costs of models such as the MC-21 and SJ-100 and the discounted prices offered to airlines, while also addressing elevated maintenance and fuel expenses. Officials expect serial production after 2030 to lower costs and eliminate the need for the surcharge, yet experts caution that added fees risk raising ticket prices and reducing overall passenger traffic.