Putin Seeks to Ban Microsoft In Russia to ‘Nationalise’ Internet

Putin is making attempts to target American companies, according to a senior US intelligence source.

Russian President Vladimir Putin. (Photo: Reuters)

The US-Russia relationship is not too great right now.

Adding to that, Vlamadir Putin is now targeting American companies and is seeking to ban Microsoft in Russia. This news comes on the heels of Putin banning LinkedIn, the social media site Microsoft is in the process of buying, last week.

According to a senior US intelligence official, Putin wants to ban the company “not only because they are the most prominent American company in the IT space, but they are also known to the Russian people and businesses as an easily understood collaborator with US intelligence.”

The idea is to replace Microsoft with Russian products, in a bid to ‘nationalise’ the internet.

In a statement to NBC News, Microsoft said: “We don’t spy on anyone. We don’t work with any government to spy on others and we never would.”

(With inputs from NBC News.)