US Government allows Russian citizens to use and pay for internet services

There is new interpretation of existing executive orders that prohibit US citizens from providing anyone in Russia with

IT Support and Cloud Services: Any IT support or cloud-based services for covered software (like ERP or CAD) to Russian entities are prohibited.

Consultancy and Design: Services related to IT consultancy, design, or custom software development for Russian companies are not allowed.

https://ofac.treasury.gov/faqs/added/2024-06-12

So Uncle Sam allows only to consume and degrade and disallows to create and prosper. Should Russian citizens comply ? Hell no.

I read this as giving more room for backbone internet providers to maintain business relationships & connections.

Providing for Russian consumer access to US internet service, there might be even more relevant services.

Why wouldn’t they? Of course it will be COMPLETELY monitored. Anything interesting happens, the AI will compile a report to be looked over by an agent.

Good. Now keep an eye on who and where uses it so that the next time an American company finds its data hidden behind ransomware, we can do the same with their stuff.

EDIT:

Downvote all you want, but the fact is, a lot of those operations act out of the Russian Federation with authorization by Putin's government to disrupt American life while earning some sweet crypto in return, helping offset the effects of sanctions. They've done it to utilities, hospitals, financial institutions, etc. without any regard for the collateral damage it causes to American civilians. This won't stop until they pay a price for it.

Sanctions apply both ways, one side more than the other.

policy makers pretend the intended side suffers most. Or do they still believe that?

amusing, acknowledging a redundant restriction

OFAC office is so understaffed and underutilized

West vs. Rest, classic :)