Kaspersky Lab shutting down U.S. operations
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Kaspersky Lab's stand at Mobile World Congress in Barcelona, Spain in 2022. Photo by Pau Barrena/AFP via Getty Images.
Kaspersky Lab said Monday it will start winding down its U.S. operations and lay off U.S.-based employees next month following a recent Commerce Department ban.
Why it matters: Shuttering Kaspersky's U.S. office marks the end of a years-long fight between the Russian antivirus maker and the U.S. government.
- At one point, the company was a widely used government vendor and sponsored high-profile conferences around D.C.
Driving the news: Kaspersky, the Russia-based antivirus and threat intelligence vendor, had previously vowed to fight the forthcoming Commerce Department ban on its antivirus software.
- The action bans new installations of Kaspersky Lab's antivirus software starting July 20. Existing U.S. customers will stop receiving product updates on Sept. 29.
- Journalist Kim Zetter first reported the news, noting that U.S. employees were told they would be laid off this week.
What they're saying: "The company has carefully examined and evaluated the impact of the U.S. legal requirements and made this sad and difficult decision as business opportunities in the country are no longer viable," the company said in a statement.
- "Kaspersky has been operating in the U.S. for close to 20 years, contributing to the nation's strategic cybersecurity goals by safeguarding organizations and individuals in the country from ever-evolving cyberthreats."
Yes, but: Kaspersky will maintain operations outside of the United States, including its offices across Europe.
The big picture: Kaspersky has been facing mounting pressures from governments worldwide in recent years over its potential ties to the Russian government.
- While Kaspersky has denied that it helps Moscow conduct cyber espionage, national security experts fear the company could still face pressure to share customer information under Russian law.
- The U.S. government had also banned Kaspersky from government networks in 2017. But even then the company put up a legal fight.
What we're watching: The closure of the U.S. office should create an added incentive for American customers to find alternative tech solutions before the Commerce Department's deadlines.
