Microsoft Russia head Nikolai Pryanishnikov said Wednesday that he does not exclude the possibility of handing over source code used by Skype, an IP telephony provider that the IT giant purchased in May, to the Federal Security Service.
"I would like to do it," he said, Interfax reported. "We just need to go through several more stages of integration [with Skype]."
Microsoft already gave the FSB access to a number of its products, including source code to Windows 7, Microsoft Windows Server 2008 R2, Microsoft Office 2010 and Microsoft SQL Server, hoping to improve sales to the state.
Source code is the fundamental instruction set of a software product, while coding algorithms are used to protect information. Pryanishnikov also said the company intends to further cooperate with the FSB and the state.
(MT)
A Message from The Moscow Times:
Dear readers,
We are facing unprecedented challenges. Russia's Prosecutor General's Office has designated The Moscow Times as an "undesirable" organization, criminalizing our work and putting our staff at risk of prosecution. This follows our earlier unjust labeling as a "foreign agent."
These actions are direct attempts to silence independent journalism in Russia. The authorities claim our work "discredits the decisions of the Russian leadership." We see things differently: we strive to provide accurate, unbiased reporting on Russia.
We, the journalists of The Moscow Times, refuse to be silenced. But to continue our work, we need your help.
Your support, no matter how small, makes a world of difference. If you can, please support us monthly starting from just $2. It's quick to set up, and every contribution makes a significant impact.
By supporting The Moscow Times, you're defending open, independent journalism in the face of repression. Thank you for standing with us.
Remind me later.