[gorbachev]

If you scroll down on the thread linked, someone mentions the reason isn't that the developers are Russian, but because their employers in Russia are sanctioned companies.

I don't know if that's accurate, but seems feasible. If so I'm 100% behind it.

It'd be nice to know the exact reasoning for this, rather than just see a commit without any context of why they're being removed. I'm pretty sure we'll know in due time.

[yeputons]

I think it's more likely that everyone will forget in a few days and we will never know. Maybe there will be few more random bans.

I highly doubt anyone banned will even try to send "sufficient documentation". The wording is as vague and arbitrary as it gets, and the underlying tone sounds to me not like "we have such and such requirements", but like "some Russian-sounding names are banned, but we still have to demonstrate there is a due process".

Reminds me of banks. Banks are fined for not having processes for detecting money laundering. Not money laundering, mind it, just having "inadequate" processes. If such a process flags someone, that someone is blocked and they should provide "sufficient documents", but the bank is not allowed to tell them why or what, that would be "tipping off", which is illegal. And then it all comes down to bank's internal policies (that the bank is not allowed to disclose) or even a personal relationship with a branch manager.

[diggan]

> Banks are fined for not having processes for detecting money laundering. Not money laundering, mind it, just having "inadequate" processes. If such a process flags someone, that someone is blocked and they should provide "sufficient documents",

Isn't that how most compliance regulation works? You can't force companies to have a perfect record of preventing something, no matter how you structure things, so instead of trying to do so, you setup something that will at least preventing it somewhat. And then you fine the companies who don't do anything to prevent the issue.

[yeputons]

I'm not a lawyer, but I don't think so. For example, there is no penalty for not having an accountant on payroll. But there are some for not keeping adequate records. I suspect it's irrelevant whether you have a full-time accountant so your records are always in order, or if you do nothing all year and hire someone for a big overhaul each December and also every time authorities need something.

[afr0ck]

> "some Russian-sounding names are banned, but we still have to demonstrate there is a due process".

That's not true! There are still many Russian maintainers in the kernel, but they are not based in Russia. They only banned individuals, based in Russia, who are employed by sanctioned companies.

[yeputons]

As a neighboring comment mentioned, at least one banned individual seems to be based in the US is employed by Amazon, as per their LinkedIn, including some old posts: https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=41933300

They just happened to still use their older .ru email in the MAINTAINERS file.

[neoromantique]

Then he should send that info and he will be reinstated :shrug:

[yeputons]

Well, we have a response from Linus himself, in his usual style: https://lore.kernel.org/all/CAHk-=whNGNVnYHHSXUAsWds_MoZ-iEg...

Not much exact reasoning added, if you ask me. Quoting:

> Ok, lots of Russian trolls out and about.

> It's entirely clear why the change was done, it's not getting reverted, ...

> And FYI for the actual innocent bystanders who aren't troll farm accounts - the "various compliance requirements" are not just a US thing.

> If you haven't heard of Russian sanctions yet, ...

> As to sending me a revert patch - please use whatever mush you call brains. I'm Finnish. ...

[mokoshhydro]

Huawei is under same level of sanctions, but nobody with `[e-mail]` is removed from Maintainers list. So, probably "sanctions" are not the reason.

[Suppafly]

>Huawei is under same level of sanctions

is it? the actual specifics of the sanctions matter, I don't think any of the US sanctions would prevent them from participating in kernel programming.

[walterbell]

Would you happen to know which specific sanctions text relates to kernel programming?

[Suppafly]

I don't but with Huawei, the situation is mostly that we don't want to import their technology or give them our technology. With Russia, we basically prohibit all business in general with the entire country.

[wiseowise]

Spying and invading are different things. Huawei can’t be under same level of sanctions by definition.

[gizmondo]

It's not accurate. Everyone with .ru email was removed regardless of actual sanctions, including people who currently live and work in US.

[yeputons]

Do you have any example of a removed person with .ru email who lives and works in the US?

I saw some comments on Reddit about people with @gmail.com (I think), but other comments pointed out that these people were not actually removed and were just present on a screenshot.

[gizmondo]

https://www.linkedin.com/in/aospan

[yeputons]

That's a good example. Thank you.

[zhdi]

What about maintainers employed by huawei, they still on that file, any difference here?