US Plans to Prohibit Citizens from Using Kaspersky Lab Software

The Biden administration is planning to issue an order that would prohibit private companies and citizens in the United States from using software developed by Kaspersky Lab, CNN reports, citing five US officials. According to them, the ban is justified on "national security grounds." In 2017, the Department of Homeland Security banned the use of Kaspersky Lab products by federal agencies due to suspicions about the company's ties to Russian intelligence agencies; however, this measure did not apply to individuals and companies.

CNN reports that the new ban will be announced by the US Department of Commerce. Sources from CNN indicated that the order is in its final stages, but the decision could be published this month. Some products and services from Kaspersky Lab may no longer be available in the United States. The channel's interlocutors admitted that the ban could extend to antivirus programs. Thus, the White House intends to mitigate risks to America’s critical infrastructure, according to CNN.

It is noted that US authorities believe that Russian authorities could use Kaspersky Lab's data to spy on American companies and citizens or gain access to their information. The company expressed disappointment in 2017 regarding the US ban, stating that the authorities had not provided evidence of connections to Russian intelligence services and that the accusations were based on unfounded claims.