WeChat

Update: The article was updated with comments from Kaspersky

Canada has banned Chinese messaging platform WeChat and Russian antivirus program Kaspersky on government-issued mobile devices over privacy and security risks.

Moscow-based Kaspersky and Tencent (OTCPK:TCEHY) (OTCPK:TCTZF)-owned WeChat suite of applications will be removed from government-issued mobile devices, effective Oct. 30.

The users of these devices will also be blocked from downloading the applications in the future, the Treasury Board of Canada said in a press release on Monday.

The Chief Information Officer of Canada determined that WeChat and Kaspersky applications presented an unacceptable level of risk to privacy and security.

"We are taking a risk-based approach to cyber security by removing access to these applications on government mobile devices," said Anita Anand, president of the Treasury Board.

The Treasury Board noted that while the risks of using these applications were clear, it had no evidence that government information had been compromised.

"Kaspersky maintains that this prohibition is based on unsubstantiated allegations and without any public evidence of wrongdoing by the company. As there has been no evidence or due process to otherwise justify these actions, they are highly unsupported and a response to the geopolitical climate rather than a comprehensive evaluation of the integrity of Kaspersky’s products and services," Kaspersky said in a statement to Seeking Alpha.

Kaspersky added that it is ready to cooperate with the Canadian government agencies to address any regulatory agency’s concerns and reverse the decision.

In addition, the Treasury Board noted that the decision to remove and block the WeChat and the Kaspersky applications was made to ensure that Government of Canada networks and data remain secure and are in line with the approach of its international partners.