By D. Maan, Jadetimes News
Kaspersky Labs Withdraws from US Market Following Biden Administration Ban
Russian antivirus giant Kaspersky Labs has announced its decision to exit the US market following a ban on the sales and distribution of its software by the Biden administration. The company described the move as a "sad and difficult decision," citing that business opportunities in the country are no longer viable.
This decision follows a statement by Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo, who indicated that Moscow's influence over Kaspersky posed a significant risk to US infrastructure and services. Despite operating in the US for two decades, Kaspersky has consistently denied these allegations.
Effective July 20, 2024, Kaspersky will begin winding down its US operations and eliminating US based positions. The firm's US website has already ceased selling its antivirus and cybersecurity tools, displaying a message stating that purchases are unavailable for US customers.
The ban on Kaspersky products stems from concerns over Russia's potential to collect and weaponize the personal information of Americans. "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 stated.
The ruling leverages broad powers established by the Trump administration, designed to restrict transactions between US firms and technology companies from nations deemed "foreign adversaries," such as Russia and China. The ban encompasses downloads of software updates, resales, and licensing of Kaspersky products, effective from September 29, 2024. New business activities were restricted within 30 days of the announcement, with sellers and resellers facing fines for violations.
Despite the withdrawal, Kaspersky has vowed to pursue "all legally available options" to challenge the ban, maintaining that it has not engaged in any activities that threaten US security. The Moscow headquartered multinational company operates in 31 countries, serving over 400 million users and 270,000 corporate clients globally.
