United States: The Russian antivirus giant Kaspersky Labs has announced its withdrawal from the US market after the Joe Biden administration banned the sale and distribution of its software.
Kaspersky described the decision by the US administration as ‘sad and difficult.’ Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo said that Moscow’s influence over the company posed a significant threat to US infrastructure and services. Kaspersky, which has operated in the US for two decades has denied the allegations.
Effective July 20, 2024, Kaspersky will begin winding down its US operations and eliminating US-based positions. The company’s US website has already stopped selling its antivirus and cybersecurity tools, displaying that purchases are unavailable for US customers. Raimondo emphasised that Russia’s capacity and intent to exploit American personal information necessitated the ban.
“Kaspersky will generally no longer be able to, among other activities, sell its software within the United States or provide updates to software already in use,” the Commerce Department said.
The ruling, using powers established during the Trump administration, restricts transactions between US firms and tech companies from adversary nations like Russia and China. It bars downloads of software updates, resales, and licensing of Kaspersky products from September 29, with new business restricted within 30 days of the announcement. Sellers and resellers who violate the restrictions will face fines from the Commerce Department.
Kaspersky intends to pursue all legal options to fight the ban, asserting it has not engaged in activities threatening US security. Headquartered in Moscow, Kaspersky has offices in 31 countries, serving over 400 million users and 270,000 corporate clients in more than 200 countries. Despite these challenges, Kaspersky remains committed to its international clients and operations outside the US.
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