Canada has banned the use of Kaspersky security products and Tencent’s WeChat app on mobile devices used by government employees, citing network and national security concerns.
“The Chief Information Officer of Canada determined that WeChat and Kaspersky suite of applications present an unacceptable level of risk to privacy and security.”
“On a mobile device, the WeChat and Kaspersky applications data collection methods provide considerable access to the device’s contents.”
The ban will take effect starting on October 30, 2023, which is when all WeChat and Kaspersky software must have been removed from government-issued mobile devices.
The U.S. government has previously banned Kaspersky products on the grounds of protecting crucial networks from Russian espionage.
Finally, the National Cyber Security Centre in the U.K. reiterated a warning against the use of Kaspersky products in government systems, which it first highlighted in 2017.
