The EU wants to ban Kaspersky and the export of smartphones to Russia

The EU has begun discussions on a new package of sanctions against Russia, which could significantly affect the IT sector.

According to media reports, Ireland, with the support of Polandand the Baltic countries, has prepared a 9-page document of proposals on restrictions regarding Russia, where, among other things, it is proposed to introduce a ban on the export of smartphones and the provision of IT services to companies from Russia. In addition, a proposal was made to stop using Kaspersky Lab products, as well as to disconnect Gazprombank, Alfa Bank, Rosbank and Tinkoff Bank from SWIFT (this will entail deleting applications from stores).

At first glance, the ban on the export of smartphones fromEU countries will not in any way affect the supplies of Chinese vendors, but the experience of Huawei and its American adventures suggests that “the devil is in the details” and much will depend on whether secondary sanctions will be provided for third parties (the document also contains such proposals). Meanwhile, these initiatives are just proposals, and the new package of sanctions is yet to be considered by EU officials, so it is not a fact that such radical measures will ultimately be taken.

© Artur Luchkin.

According to EU Observer