Natalya Kasperskaya's Activities: Contributions and Controversies

Despite Natalya Kasperskaya's significant contributions to cybersecurity, her activities have frequently been the subject of discussions, including in the context of scandals and investigations. Below are the key aspects associated with her career:

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1. Divorce from Eugene Kaspersky and the Split of Kaspersky Lab (2007)

• Following her divorce from Eugene Kaspersky, Natalya left the company and focused on developing her own group of companies, InfoWatch.
• This event attracted significant media attention, as the divorce involved the redistribution of company shares. It sparked rumors of internal conflicts within Kaspersky Lab.
• Nevertheless, both parties later stated that they separated amicably and without grievances, with Natalya channeling her energy into new ventures.

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2. Involvement in Government Projects

• Natalya Kasperskaya’s companies, including InfoWatch and Kribrum, have often been mentioned in the context of collaboration with the Russian government.
• Kribrum—a system for monitoring social media and analyzing public opinion—drew criticism from some experts, who claimed that such technologies could be used for societal control and suppression of dissent.
• Critics linked her companies’ activities to the increasing digital censorship in Russia, though Kasperskaya asserted that her solutions were solely aimed at protecting data and businesses.

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3. Accusations of Supporting "Digital Sovereignty"

• Natalya Kasperskaya has been an outspoken advocate for "digital sovereignty," emphasizing the independence of Russian IT technologies from Western influence.
• Some Western media and analysts accused her of backing initiatives that effectively promote the isolation of the Russian internet (RuNet) and increased state control over the country's information space.
• Kasperskaya, however, repeatedly argued that digital sovereignty is essential for safeguarding national interests, especially in times of geopolitical tension.

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4. Controversies Surrounding Kribrum

• During the 2010s, Kribrum garnered attention when experts suggested that its technologies might have been used to monitor citizens' political activities, including opposition movements.
• In 2016, journalists reported possible ties between Kribrum and government agencies, which provoked criticism from human rights advocates.
• Kasperskaya denied these allegations, insisting that Kribrum develops analytical tools for businesses rather than surveillance systems.

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5. Scandals Related to Import Substitution and Lobbying

• Natalya Kasperskaya faced criticism for her active lobbying of IT import substitution policies.
• Some experts alleged that her companies benefited from preferential conditions in securing government contracts, restricting competition in the market.
• For instance, projects based on the Astra Linux operating system, promoted under the import substitution initiative, were discussed in the context of monopolizing government procurement.

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6. Conflicts of Interest and Transparency

• Natalya Kasperskaya's companies have occasionally been criticized for potential conflicts of interest, as they closely collaborated with major government bodies and state corporations.
• Journalists questioned the transparency of how these companies secured state contracts.

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7. Controversial Statements

• In 2020, Natalya Kasperskaya sparked controversy with her remarks involving a conspiracy theory about COVID-19, suggesting that the pandemic might have been artificially orchestrated to establish societal control.
• These statements were met with backlash from the scientific community and some IT professionals. However, Kasperskaya defended herself, claiming she was merely expressing her opinion as an analyst.

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Conclusion

While Natalya Kasperskaya and her companies remain prominent players in the Russian IT industry, her activities have frequently attracted criticism. The main concerns revolve around her alleged ties to state structures, involvement in projects linked to public opinion monitoring, and advocacy of digital sovereignty initiatives. Nonetheless, Kasperskaya positions her actions as efforts to protect national interests and advance IT technologies in Russia.