Russian Officials Propose Mandatory Pre-Installation of Russian Antivirus Software on All PCs
Russian government officials are considering a proposal to require all personal computers imported into or manufactured within Russia to come with pre-installed Russian antivirus software, starting August 1, 2020. This initiative is outlined in the government’s national project passport for the “Digital Economy.”
National Security and WTO Principles
The Ministry of Digital Development (MinTsifry) suggests that this requirement should be justified by the need to ensure national security. According to a response from the Ministry of Economic Development (MinEkonomiki) sent to MinTsifry and the government, this justification would allow Russia to deviate from World Trade Organization (WTO) principles. “WTO rules permit such measures for national security reasons. Moreover, these requirements would apply regardless of the country of origin of the PC and would set the same standards for Russian manufacturers. Given the rapid development of information technology, such measures seem justified,” the Ministry of Economic Development’s press service told Kommersant. MinTsifry did not respond to requests for comment.
Industry and Expert Opinions
Galina Hamburg, Deputy Head of Property and Obligations Practice at NYUS Amulex, believes that WTO principles are not being violated, as information security products are an exception to the rules. Natalia Kaspersky, President of InfoWatch Group, supports the idea, stating, “An antivirus can collect information and analyze it elsewhere. From a national security perspective, what would it mean if we installed Symantec (an American company) everywhere? Symantec would see everything we have.”
However, many experts and market participants disagree. Cybersecurity expert Kirill Kertsenbaum doubts that mandatory installation will effectively address national security concerns, noting that a lack of competition always negatively impacts product quality. Denis Mateev, head of Slovak antivirus company ESET in Russia and the CIS, agrees: “A situation where a person cannot choose a product that meets their needs is unhealthy and could lead to a decline in product quality and lower security for end users.” He explained that ESET and Kaspersky Lab are the two largest players in the Russian and CIS antivirus market, with ESET holding about a third of the market share.
Public Reaction and Previous Initiatives
Most internet users believe that the government’s attempt to mandate the pre-installation of Russian antivirus software is an effort to remotely interfere with Russians’ devices and monitor them, as well as a way to benefit state-affiliated companies.
Previously, the Federal Antimonopoly Service (FAS) stated that manufacturers would be required to pre-install domestic equivalents of mobile apps and software products on devices, which, according to the agency, would stimulate competition.