[holmb]

I don't get this. Or at least I am quite uncomfortable with the narrative.

The points being made in the article is that there was an "unequivocal no" from six top US intelligence officials when asked whether they would be comfortable with Kaspersky Lab software on their computers. And that these claims somehow translate into that it is a fact, the author even uses the term "beyond the evidence".

There is no evidence being presented in the article. At all. Although if the statement would be that it would pose an increased and unwanted risk for US agencies to use software developed in Russia, then yes, I would not object. The same applies in reverse, for Russia, or any other state for that matter, to use Microsoft/Apple/Google software in critical applications.

The author also claims that "oligarchs and tycoons have no choice but to cooperate with the Kremlin". But as I understand it (I am not a US citizen) the US government has the same capabilities when it comes to US based companies? I specifically remember the Lavabit debacle. Or does the author insinuate that there is some additional pressure (threat) on Russian companies to comply?

[smsm42]

There are more legal protections in US than in Russia, but ultimately if FBI wants the company badly and can get either drugs or National Security in the picture, the company is toast. Well, maybe not if the company is Google or Apple, but otherwise yeah.