The Presidential Administration under Joe Biden is gearing up to take a historic step by potentially restricting the use of software from Russian company Kaspersky Lab among American companies and citizens due to national security concerns, as reported by CNN. This decision, expected to be made this month, will utilize the US Department of Commerce’s new authorities granted through executive orders from Presidents Biden and Trump.
Notably, this move will mark a significant departure as previous bans on Kaspersky Lab software have only applied to US government agencies. The primary objective behind this potential ban is to mitigate risks to critical US infrastructure.
While the final decision is pending, the Department of Commerce has taken an “initial determination” to restrict certain transactions involving the Russian firm and American individuals, according to CNN. The initial draft of the restriction, circulated last year, included American citizens, with a focus on potential amendments targeting the company’s antivirus software.
Kaspersky Lab has chosen not to comment on the looming restrictions or disclose its market share in the US. Similarly, an official spokesperson for the Department of Commerce declined to provide insights into any prospective actions concerning Kaspersky products.
For years, US officials have voiced concerns that the Russian government could compel Kaspersky Lab to share data or exploit its antivirus software for cyber attacks or surveillance on Americans, allegations vehemently denied by Kaspersky. In line with US laws, the Russian corporation has the option to challenge the initial determination for a ban on its products or negotiate terms with the government to address security apprehensions before a final verdict is issued by the Commerce Department.