Oxygen Forensics is facing scrutiny after the U.S. Department of Justice charged CEO Lee Reiber and Russian national Oleg Davydov over alleged efforts to hide the company’s Russian ownership and software development operations.
According to prosecutors, five Russian nationals allegedly controlled Oxygen Forensics through a Cyprus-based company. The DOJ also claims the company told U.S. government agencies that it had no foreign ownership or control and that its software was developed in the United States.
The allegations are now having an impact outside the U.S. The Metropolitan Police in London has paused its use of Oxygen Forensics software while it reviews the situation.
The case has raised concerns around the security and supply chain of forensic software used by law-enforcement agencies.
Importantly, the DOJ has not accused Oxygen Forensics of putting malicious code into its products or accessing customer systems without authorization. The charges concern alleged ownership concealment and false statements.
The defendants remain presumed innocent unless proven guilty in court.