Moscow lists Recorded Future as 'undesirable' organization

Russian authorities have labeled U.S. cybersecurity firm Recorded Future as an "undesirable" organization, accusing it of participating in propaganda campaigns and cyberattacks against Moscow. The Record is an editorially independent unit of Recorded Future.

In a statement on Wednesday, Russia's Prosecutor General's Office stated that the company's employees are "actively cooperating" with U.S. and foreign intelligence services, gathering and analyzing information on Russian military activities, and providing Ukraine with "unrestricted access" to programs used in offensive information operations against Russia.

A status of "undesirable" in Russia applies to organizations or individuals whose activities are considered harmful to the country's interests or security. Once designated, these organizations are prohibited from operating within Russia — their assets can be seized, and their activities curtailed. Russian citizens and legal entities are also prohibited from collaborating with these organizations and can face criminal charges if they disobey.

“Some things in life are rare compliments. This being one,” Recorded Future’s chief executive, Christopher Ahlberg, wrote on X (formerly Twitter) in response to the news.

According to Ahlberg, Recorded Future never had an office or employees in Russia. The company has no specific ties to any intelligence services, but counts many government agencies as customers, he added in an email.

In addition to its U.S. locations, Recorded Future has offices in Sweden, the U.K., Singapore and Japan. The company has been supporting Ukraine since the start of Russia’s full-scale invasion, providing intelligence data to protect the country’s critical infrastructure, detect Russian cyberattacks and help investigate war crimes. Recorded Future said it “invested more than $20 million in aid” to Ukraine in 2023.

According to Mykhailo Fedorov, Ukraine’s minister of digital transformation, Recorded Future works with several Ukrainian security agencies, including the Special Communications Service (SSSCIP), Security Service (SBU), Ministry of Defense, Prosecutor General's Office, Cyberpolice, and Military Intelligence (GUR). Recorded Future also has an office in Ukraine, employing nearly 100 people.

“We are honored to be in such great company. It's a sure sign that Recorded Future is helping secure the world with intelligence on the hostile activities of Russia-aligned actors — and that our support for Ukraine has been effective,” Ahlberg said.

In September, global payments-processing giant Mastercard announced plans to acquire Recorded Future for $2.65 billion from private equity firm Insight Partners.

Moscow has been using the "undesirable" classification since 2015, applying it to media outlets as well as political, cultural and religious groups, including those from the U.S.

In August, Russia designated the U.S. nonprofit Clooney Foundation for Justice as an "undesirable" organization, accusing it of operating on a "Hollywood scale" to discredit Moscow. In 2023, Moscow outlawed the U.S. global policy think tank RAND Corporation, and in 2020 it banned the U.S. research and analysis institute the Jamestown Foundation, claiming it posed a security threat.