The FCC adds Kaspersky to its list of national security threats

The US Federal Communications Commission has added Russian cybersecurity company Kaspersky Lab to its list list of entities that pose an “unacceptable risk to U.S. national security,” according to a report by Bloomberg. This is the first time a Russian company has been included in the list, which otherwise consists of Chinese companies, such as Huawei and ZTE.

Businesses in the United States are prohibited from using federal subsidies from the FCC’s Universal Service Fund to purchase products or services from companies on the list. In addition to Kaspersky, the FCC also added China Telecom and China Mobile International USA to its list on Friday.

“I am pleased that our national security agencies have concurred with my assessment that China Mobile and China Telecom appear to have reached the threshold required for these companies to be included on our list,” FCC Chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel said in a press release (pdf). “Their addition, as well as Kaspersky Labs, will help protect our networks from threats from Chinese and Russian state-backed entities attempting to engage in espionage and otherwise harm America’s interests.”

Kaspersky reacted to the entry of the FCC a press release on its websiteand said that given the Russian invasion of Ukraine, the agency’s decision was “taken for political reasons” and that the company “remains ready to work with US government agencies to address concerns from the FCC and other regulators.”

2017, The Russian secret service allegedly used Kaspersky antivirus software stealing classified National Security Agency documents — a claim denied by the Moscow-based company. Later that year former President Donald Trump signed a law prohibiting the use of Kaspersky products by federal authorities after they accused the company of having ties to the Kremlin.