Cybersec firm gets a ‘rare compliment’ as Moscow declares it ‘undesirable’
The Kremlin considers Recorded Future harmful to Russia’s interests and security. The firm’s chief executive considers it to be as rare a compliment one can get.
Woman looking at a military poster, Russia
The Kremlin considers Recorded Future harmful to Russia’s interests and security. The firm’s chief executive considers it to be as rare a compliment one can get.
“Some things in life are rare compliments. This being one,” Christopher Ahlberg, the co-founder and CEO, said on X.
That’s how he reacted to a recent statement by Russia's Prosecutor General's Office accusing the company of active collaboration with foreign intelligence services, including the CIA.
Moscow also claims that Recorded Future is assisting the West with “the propaganda campaign against Russia.”
“It provides Ukrainian specialists with free access to programs used for the preparation and conduct of offensive information operations against Russia.”
The Record, an editorially independent media outlet owned by the cybersecurity company, reported that Recorded Future never had employees or an office in Russia. However, it employs nearly 100 people in its Ukraine office.
Like many other cybersecurity companies, it has been supporting Ukraine since the Russian invasion in February 2022 and has given $20 million in aid to Ukraine.
Russia has been using the ‘undesirable’ classification since 2015, labeling media, political, and other organizations that are uncomfortable with the regime.
But the West also gives Russia the cold shoulder. A recent incident at the World Functional Fitness Championships in Hungary underscores this tension. Lithuanian athlete Kornelija Dūdaitė was disqualified after responding to the presence of Russian symbols at the event.
Despite restrictions on Russian athletes competing under their national flag in major sporting competitions, Russian flags and other national emblems were reportedly displayed. In protest, Dūdaitė wore a T-shirt bearing the provocative slogan "Make Russia small again," leading to her disqualification and sparking outrage in Lithuania, home to Cybernews' headquarters.