Russia Develops AI Service to Detect Marketplace Manipulation

In Russia’s Sverdlovsk region, developers have created a new AI-powered service that detects fraudulent activity and manipulative behavior on online marketplaces. The system automatically analyzes suspicious patterns such as artificial boosts in product ratings, fake reviews, and hidden comments, helping make e-commerce platforms more transparent and secure.

The project, titled “Intelligent Detection of Dark Patterns in User Interfaces on Marketplaces,” was developed by Dmitry Nazarov, head of the Business Informatics Department at Ural State University of Economics (UrGEU), and his colleague Artem Varnukhov. Their work was recognized at the Third IT Congress and “Forum of the Future” exhibition, where six teams were awarded for innovation in medicine, industry, construction, security, and logistics.

Fighting Marketplace Manipulation

The researchers’ system uses algorithms to identify subtle forms of deception — such as misleading product placements or hidden pricing cues — that distort consumer behavior. It automatically flags these manipulations for further review, allowing platforms to take action in real time.

At the same event, Ivan Klimov, CEO of IK Host LLC, received an award for developing HOSTVM, a virtualization platform that provides a secure, scalable infrastructure for virtual desktops compatible with Russian operating systems and hypervisors.

Governor Pasler noted that such initiatives represent a crucial step toward greater digital integrity and technological independence, emphasizing that projects like these “make the digital environment safer, fairer, and more transparent for both businesses and users.”