The Biden administration bans Kaspersky Lab from selling products in the U.S.
The Biden administration has announced a ban on cybersecurity company Kaspersky Lab from selling its products in the United States. The decision comes amid concerns that the firm is closely tied to Russia and poses a security risk.
Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo stated, “Russia has shown it has the capacity and intent to exploit Russian companies like Kaspersky to collect and weaponize the personal information of Americans.”
The ban will include sanctioning 12 senior leaders at the company and adding Kaspersky and its units to a trade restrictions list. This will restrict software updates, licensing, and resales.
Details of the Ban and Sanctions
- The ban will take effect on Sept. 29, blocking any new Kaspersky business 30 days after that.
- The sanctions will snap into effect on June 24, preventing those targeted from owning property or entities in the U.S. and conducting any business within the country.
Kaspersky has not responded to requests for comment, but the company stated that the decision was based on geopolitical concerns rather than an evaluation of the integrity of its products and services. The company intends to pursue all legally available options to preserve its operations.
Reactions and Previous Actions
A Kremlin spokesperson criticized the U.S. ban, calling it a move of unfair competition. The Department of Homeland Security had previously banned Kaspersky’s antivirus product from federal networks in 2017, citing ties to Russian intelligence.
Canada also banned Kaspersky applications from government mobile devices in 2023, citing privacy and security risks. Canadians are advised to make informed decisions based on their own needs and risk assessments.
Expert Opinion
Jennifer Quaid, executive director of the Canadian Cyber Security Exchange, highlighted the importance of cybersecurity in today’s world. She emphasized the concerns of cyber security professionals regarding systems that foreign governments can access.
Quaid noted that Canada often lags behind the U.S. in cybersecurity due to budget constraints and less frequent targeting. She described cyber warfare as the new battleground for nation states.
— with files from Reuters
