The FCC adds Kaspersky to its list of national security threats

According to a Bloomberg report, the US Federal Communications Commission has added Russian cyber security company Kaspersky Lab to its list of entities as an "unacceptable risk to US national security". This is the first time a Russian company has been added to the list, which is otherwise made up of Chinese companies, such as Huawei and ZTE.

Businesses in the US are barred from using federal subsidies provided through the FCC's Universal Service Fund to purchase any products or services from listed companies. In addition to Kaspersky, the FCC on Friday added China Telecom and China Mobile International USA to its list.

FCC Chair Jessica Rosenworcel said in a press release (PDF) "I am pleased that our national security agencies agree with my assessment that China Mobile and China Telecom need to require limitations to add these entities to our list." the wanted." Get it done.

Kaspersky responded to the FCC's move in a press release on its site, saying that the agency's decision was "made on political grounds" in light of Russia's invasion of Ukraine, and that the company was working to address the FCC's problems. Was being Willing to cooperate with US government agencies. and concerns of any other regulatory agency."

In 2017, Russian intelligence allegedly used Kaspersky's antivirus software to steal classified documents from the National Security Agency – a claim denied by the Moscow-based company. Later that year, former President Donald Trump signed a bill banning the use of Kaspersky products by federal agencies after accusing the company of having ties to the Kremlin.