The cybersecurity firm Kaspersky denied on Friday that it poses a security threat following the U.S. Commerce Department’s decision to ban the use of its software in the United States. Despite the ban, the Moscow-based company asserted that it would not affect its ability to market and sell its cybersecurity products and training in the U.S.
Kaspersky criticized the government’s decision as being influenced by “geopolitical climate and theoretical concerns” without independent verification of any risk. The U.S. government cited Kaspersky’s Russian connections as posing an “undue or unacceptable risk to U.S. national security or the safety and security.”
The Commerce Department highlighted that Eugene Kaspersky, the company’s CEO, is a Russian citizen living in Russia, making the company subject to Russian laws. The decision, dated June 14, emphasized that Kaspersky’s software could potentially be exploited to access sensitive data of U.S. citizens, thereby benefiting Russian government actors.
The department stated, “The risks to U.S. national security addressed in this Final Determination stem not from whether Kaspersky’s products are effective at identifying viruses and other malware, but whether they can be used strategically to cause harm to the United States.”
Despite these claims, Kaspersky maintains that it cannot deliberately obtain sensitive data on Americans and that its operations in Russia only have access to aggregate or statistical data not linked to specific individuals. The company argues that the U.S. ban will benefit cybercriminals and limit consumer and organizational choice in cybersecurity protection.
Kaspersky concluded its statement by affirming its commitment to defending its reputation and commercial interests against what it perceives as unfair actions.
