Russian antivirus large Kaspersky Labs has informed BBC News that it’s leaving the US after the Biden administration banned sales and distribution of the firm’s software.
Kaspersky mentioned it had made the “sad and difficult decision” to depart “as business opportunities in the country are no longer viable”.
It comes after Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo mentioned final month that Moscow’s affect over the company posed a big danger to US infrastructure and providers.
Kaspersky, which had been working in the US for twenty years, has denied the allegations.
“Starting from July 20, 2024 Kaspersky will gradually wind down its US operations and eliminate US-based positions,” the agency mentioned in an announcement.
Its US web site has already stopped promoting its antivirus and cybersecurity instruments, with a message studying “purchase is unavailable for US customers”.
The announcement got here after gross sales and distribution of Kaspersky merchandise have been banned in the US.
Ms Raimondo mentioned the US was compelled to take motion because of Russia’s “capacity and… intent to collect and weaponise 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 mentioned.
The ruling used broad powers created by the Trump administration to ban or limit transactions between US corporations and expertise corporations from “foreign adversary” nations like Russia and China.
It successfully barred downloads of software program updates, resales and licensing of the merchandise from 29 September, whereas new enterprise was to be restricted inside 30 days of the announcement.
Sellers and resellers who violate the restrictions will face fines from the Commerce Department.
According to the Commerce Department, the Moscow-headquartered multinational company has places of work in 31 nations round the world, servicing greater than 400 million customers and 270,000 company purchasers in additional than 200 nations.
At the time Kaspersky mentioned it supposed to pursue “all legally available options” to struggle the ban, and denied it engaged in any exercise that threatened US safety.
