Shankul Bhandare
Russian antivirus giant Kaspersky Labs has announced its departure from the US market following a ban by the Biden administration on the sales and distribution of its software. The company described the decision as “sad and difficult,” citing the lack of viable business opportunities in the US.
The move follows Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo’s statement last month that Moscow’s influence over Kaspersky posed a significant threat to US infrastructure and services. Kaspersky, which has been operating in the US for two decades, denies these allegations.
Effective from July 20, 2024, Kaspersky will begin winding down its US operations and eliminating US-based positions. The company’s US website has already ceased selling its antivirus and cybersecurity tools, displaying a message that “purchase is unavailable for US customers.”
The Commerce Department’s ruling, invoking broad powers established during the Trump administration, restricts transactions between US firms and technology companies from “foreign adversary” nations like Russia and China. This ban covers software updates, resales, and licensing of Kaspersky products, with new business restrictions implemented within 30 days of the announcement. Violators face fines from the Commerce Department.
Kaspersky, headquartered in Moscow with offices in 31 countries, services over 400 million users and 270,000 corporate clients in more than 200 countries. Despite the ban, Kaspersky intends to pursue all legally available options to challenge the ruling and continues to deny any activities that threaten US security.
