The Office of Foreign Assets Control under the US Treasury announced that Microsoft has agreed to pay more than 3 million in fines for violating sanctions against a number of countries, including Russia.
“Today, as part of a coordinated enforcement effort, the Department of Commerce’s Bureau of Industry and Security (BIS) and the U.S. Treasury Department’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) imposed $3.3 million in cumulative civil penalties against Microsoft for alleged and apparent violations of US export control laws and sanctions. Microsoft voluntarily reported alleged violations to BIS and OFAC, cooperated on a joint investigation, and took remedial action“, the statement said.
OFAC noted that “Microsoft has agreed to pay $2,980,265.86 to settle potential civil liability related to the export of services or software from the United States to countries subject to comprehensive sanctions and to persons on the blocking sanctions list or prohibited persons for violating OFAC sanctions programs related to Cuba, Iran, Syria and Ukraine/Russia“.
Speaking of Russia, OFAC found Microsoft violated sanctions by allowing its products to be used in Crimeablocked by Russian legal entities or individuals“.
As for the violations recorded by the US Department of Commerce, we are talking about seven episodes. As reported, employees of the Russian office of Microsoft “encourage another Microsoft subsidiary to enter into or sell software license agreements that allow you to transfer or access» to such software. The statement also indicates specific Russian companies: FAU Glavgosexpertiza of Russia and United Shipbuilding Corporation.
