US imposes sanctions on 12 executives of Russian company Kaspersky

(Patria) - Washington yesterday imposed economic sanctions on 12 executives of the Russian cybersecurity firm Kaspersky.

The previous day, it banned the use of the company's antivirus software in the US, citing the firm's closeness to Moscow.

- Today's action against Kaspersky Lab executives underscores our ongoing commitment to ensuring the integrity of our digital space and protecting our citizens from malicious online threats - said Under Secretary of the Treasury for Terrorism and Financial Intelligence Brian Nelson.

The sanctions, announced by the US Department of the Treasury, represent a "response to persistent digital security risks".

- The US is determined to protect and preserve the integrity of our information and communication technology from online threats - said State Department spokesperson Matthew Miller.

He emphasized that Kaspersky's cybersecurity products and solutions allow access to data on computers where their software is installed, and that Kaspersky is under the control or direction of the Russian government and could exploit this privileged access to obtain sensitive data, including personal information, or bypass cybersecurity measures.

Miller added that this poses an unacceptable risk to US national security or to Americans.

The US Department of Commerce announced two days ago that Kaspersky is no longer permitted to sell its software in the US or to continue providing updates for software already in use.