New chapter in the geopolitical tensions and concerns about cybersecurity that have marked the relations between the United States and Russia in the last few years. This time it is the Russian cybersecurity company that pays the price, Kaspersky Lab, one of the most famous and important cybersecurity companies, which announced the gradual cessation of its activities in the United States starting July 20, 2024. A decision following the ban imposed by the Biden administration which will officially come into force on September 29th.
Le restrizioni will prevent the download of software updates, resale and licensing of Kaspersky products. Retailers who violate the ban will be subject to fines and risk criminal prosecution.
Why Kaspersky Lab is leaving the United States
The ban on Kaspersky Lab was announced last month by the US Department of Commerce, motivated by national security concerns. Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo said the decision was made for risks linked to Russian influence about the cybersecurity company. The in-depth analysis by the Department of Commerce would have highlighted potential interference by the Kremlin, leading to fears that the Russian company's software could spread malware and perpetrate malicious cyber activities against the United States. As a result, starting September 29, you will be prohibited from purchasing, installing and updating Kaspersky software in the United States.
Then on June 21, the Treasury Department imposed sanctions on Kaspersky's top management, freezing the assets of twelve executives and preventing their access to the US financial system. The sanctioned executives include the head of business development, the chief operating officer, the chief legal officer and the head of corporate communications. The Bureau of Industry and Security (BIS) has, however, included several entities linked to Kaspersky in its Entity List, barring American companies from doing business with them, in line with similar actions taken against other tech companies deemed dangerous to national security, such as Huawei.
US authorities have stressed that continued use of Kaspersky products poses cybersecurity risks, despite no concrete evidence has been found that demonstrates the link between the company and the Kremlin. But the United States is not interested in this. A Commerce Department official said: “We generally understand that the Russian government uses any available resources to perpetrate various malicious cyber activities. We don't name particular actions, but we certainly believe it is more than just a theoretical threat the one we describe."
The choice of Kaspersky Lab
Kaspersky Lab expressed regret for the US decision, stating that it has always operated in compliance with international and local laws. The company attributed the ban to current geopolitical frictions between Western countries and Russia, rather than to a concrete danger.
However, in response to the measures imposed, the cybersecurity company declared that operations in the United States are "no longer sustainable". The company announced that will begin to gradually reduce activities and eliminate job positions based in the USA starting from the 20 July until the complete exit from the American market, with approximately fifty employees who will be fired and receive severance pay. Kaspersky described the situation as “sad,” noting that it had carefully assessed the impact of US legal requirements before making this decision.
Even before the ban went into effect, Kaspersky had already stopped allowing American consumers to purchase products via its website.
The precedent of 2017
It is not the first time that Kaspersky has been targeted by the US government. Already in 2017, the company's software had been banned from all government offices in the United States, while private companies had been invited not to use it, opting for alternative solutions. However, the 2017 ban was limited to government systems, while the new 2024 ban involves public and private without distinction.
Kaspersky's future in the United States is uncertain. As he prepares to close down operations, it remains to be seen whether he will attempt to resume operations in the future. For now, the company has chosen to abandon the American market without further legal disputes.
