Russian Spying: CEO Of Kaspersky Agrees To Give U.S. Government Source Code To Security Products

Eugene Kaspersky, CEO and founder of of cybersecurity firm Kaspersky Lab, said he would allow the United States government examine the source code of his company’s products to prove Kaspersky Lab has no ties to the Russian government.

The security firm’s CEO expressed willingness to comply with the U.S. government after his company has come under fire from some U.S. officials for what they perceive to be uncomfortably close connections between Kaspersky and the Kremlin.

Read: Russian Spying: U.S. Officials Concerned Kaspersky Lab May Be Compromised By Russian Government

“If the United States needs, we can disclose the source code,” Kaspersky told the Associated Press. “Anything I can do to prove that we don’t behave maliciously I will do it.” He also offered to testify before U.S. lawmakers.

Kaspersky’s apparent cooperation comes after increased scrutiny has been applied to his company. U.S. intelligence officials have advised Congress avoid using Kaspersky products, and lawmakers have started to weigh the possibility of banning the company from the Pentagon over fears of involvement from the Russian government.

The pressure on Kaspersky and his security firm escalated last week when the FBI reportedly visited the homes of more than one dozen U.S. employees of Kaspersky. The CEO confirmed those visits happened but was not aware as to what the agency was pursuing.

According to Kaspersky, the visits will make it difficult for the company to maintain a relationship with the FBI, which it has done to serve as a go-between when cooperation is required by Russian and American law enforcement. “Unfortunately, now the links to the FBI are completely ruined,” he told the AP.

Read: Russia Arrested Kaspersky Senior Manager On Treason Charges, Cybersecurity Company Confirms

Much of the concern about Kaspersky Lab stems from Kaspersky’s own background. The cybersecurity expert attended a school run by the KGB—the primary security agency for the Soviet Union—and worked for Russia’s Ministry of Defense.

Kaspersky was the subject of a counterintelligence investigation launched by the FBI in 2012, and was reportedly asked to become an informant for the agency—an offer he declined. It’s believed the investigation did not yield any evidence to back suspicions, but that has not prevented those concerns from persisting.

While Kaspersky maintains he no longer has any direct ties with the Russian government or intelligence agencies, there has long been speculation if his company would be allowed to operate within Russia without any form of government interference.

Kaspersky did cop to the possibility that former intelligence agents may work within the company—likely in the sales department, according to the CEO—it would be next to impossible for them to abuse the company’s products.

Despite the longheld skepticism of some in the community and government, Kaspersky Lab has created a massive global presence with its security and antivirus software. The company boasts more than 400 million users worldwide, including more than 270,000 corporate clients.

Earlier this year, the Russian government charged an employee of Kaspersky Lab —along with two officers in the Federal Security Service—with treason for allegedly cooperating with the U.S. government.