Russian software developers are reporting that their GitHub accounts are being suspended without warning if they work for or previously worked for companies under US sanctions.
According to Russian media outlets, the ban wave began on April 13 and didn't discriminate between companies and individuals.
For example, the GitHub accounts of Sberbank Technology, Sberbank AI Lab, and the Alfa Bank Laboratory had their code repositories initially disabled and are now removed from the platform.
Considering that these companies were sanctioned by the U.S. Treasury last week and Microsoft owns GitHub, an American company, the action is not unexpected.
However, suspending the private accounts of dozens of individuals that host no content connected to any sanctioned entities is quite surprising.
Personal accounts suspended on GitHub have their content wiped while all repositories become immediately out of reach, and the same applies to issues and pull requests.
Habr.com reports that some Russian developers contacted GitHub about the suspension and received an email titled 'GitHub and Trade Controls' that explained their account was disabled due to US sanctions.
This email contains a link to a GitHub page explaining the company's policies regarding sanctions and trade controls, which explains how a user can appeal their suspension.
This appeal form requires the individual to certify that they do not use their GitHub account on behalf of a sanctioned entity.
A developer posted to Twitter saying that he could remove the suspension after filling out the form and that it was due to his previous employer being sanctioned.
Controversial move
GitHub has previously stated that its vision is to be the home for all developers, including those residing in Russia, making it clear that it’s planning no mass bans.
“In parallel with our efforts to make sure GitHub is available to developers in all countries, we are continuing to ensure free open source services are available to all, including developers in Russia,” said the platform in a blog post published last March.
While a lot has happened since then, there has been no update on these policies on GitHub’s blog, so we can only assume that their stance on the subject remains the same.
Bleeping Computer has reached out to GitHub asking for a comment on the reported suspension wave, and a spokesperson of the platform has responded with the following:
Like any company that does business in the U.S., GitHub may have to restrict users and customers identified as Specially Designated Nationals (SDNs) or other denied or blocked parties under U.S. and other applicable sanctions laws, or that may be using GitHub on behalf of blocked parties.
At the same time, GitHub’s vision is to be the global platform for developer collaboration, no matter where developers reside. We examine government sanctions thoroughly to be certain that users and customers are not impacted beyond what is required by law. - GitHub
According to this, the suspended private accounts are either affiliated, collaborating, or working with/for sanctioned entities. However, even those who previously worked for a sanctioned company appear to be suspended by mistake.
This means that Russian users, in general, can suddenly find their projects wiped and accounts suspended, even if those projects have nothing to do with the sanctioned entities.
Comments
Amigo-A - 2 years ago
If developers who work for companies on the sanctions list post some of their own developments on GitHub, then this work is unlikely to be related to the company in which they work.
It is unlikely that any bank (bank security service) will approve such work by a developer on a foreign resource.
Moreover, it is unlikely that GitHub is the only resource where the developer posted information about his development. It is on his computer, on a flash drive, at least.
alex2012 - 2 years ago
Yes. Let's completely push Russia into North Korea.
Krzynisko - 2 years ago
No, another way. Russia showed its true face.
ThomasMann - 2 years ago
GitHub, as well as some comments, only once again prove the sad truth, that way above 90 % of what considers itself homo sapiens suffer from a lack of intelligence.
The digital world people are even way above that number....
yawnshard - 2 years ago
Some people have an amazing desire to make other people suffer for no reason. People not even involved in this conflict.
NoneRain - 2 years ago
Governments are making pressure with sanctions, witch makes enterprise to obey them as well.
It's not about the "desire to make other people suffer", neither is "for no reason".
Russia is killing people, trying to take an entire country by force.
The world restricting services and business with the country, is the mos civilized way to pression them, to say they're at the wrong side.
A lot of enterprise are keeping the "vital" services, but restricting other stuff by the law (sanctions) of their countries.
PulpHerb - 2 years ago
If you don't control the server you don't control what is on it.
DrkKnight - 2 years ago
I love how so many think they have the answer......
What are we supposed to do? let the Russian economy thrive fueling and supporting an unjust invasion while Putin murders innocent civilians?
The only way to stop this is to bring Russia's economy to it's knees, realizing that the vast majority of Russian's are against this invasion whether outspoken or not, but unfortunately some or most of the good people of Russia will get caught up in sanctions. In my mind the sanctions in place are not enough, if it were me, I would completely seal off the entire Country of Russia from the outside world until the entire Russian army goes home. Good people are paying with their lives in the Ukraine, so good people need to pay with their wallets in Russia ..... so be it.