Rep. Schiff Discussing Economic Sanctions Against Microsoft by Putin on NBC

On Tuesday, November 2, Rep. Adam Schiff (D-CA) spoke with NBC Nightly News' Cynthia McFadden about Russia's moves to rid government offices and state-controlled companies of all foreign software and blocking Microsoft-linked sites like LinkedIn. Schiff said he's not surprised Russia is singling out Microsoft since Russia's relationship with the U.S. is at "the lowest ebb since the end of the Cold War. Putin as an old KGB officer views the world as a zero-sum game between Russia and the U.S.," he said. "Whatever is good for the U.S. is bad for Russia and vice versa."

The move against Microsoft "may also be a way for Russia to signal to its own population we can't trust American technology — and once again feed into Russian hostility and paranoia towards America and its products," Schiff said. "So as part economic message, part a shot across the bow, part attack on American IT, part protectionism ... all, I think, very consistent with the kind of escalation we are seeing from Putin."

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