Israeli website builder Wix to block all Russian accounts due to US sanctions imposed on Russia in response to its aggression in Ukraine

🌍 This article is also available in RU , UK , HE

3 min read

Wix was founded in Israel in 2006 by Avishai Abrahami, Nadav Abrahami, and Giora Kaplan. The company's main idea is to “empower people to freely express themselves and grow on the Internet.” Today, Wix serves more than 250 million users worldwide

Despite the fact that Wix is an Israeli companyit is subject to US sanctions because its activities are related to the US market, including using technology and doing business in the US. In addition, many tech companies like Wix use US platforms and resources (e.g. cloud services, payment systems) that fall under US jurisdiction. As a result, companies must comply with US laws, especially sanctions imposed on Russia in response to its aggression in Ukraine.

.......

Also, in a globalized world, compliance with US sanctions is important for companies seeking to avoid secondary sanctions that could limit their access to US markets and resources.

As of September 12, 2024, Wix, a popular cloud-based website creation service, introduces blocking of all Russian user accountsincluding both free and paid ones. This is due to new US sanctions imposed under President Biden's executive order (Executive Order 14071). Under the measures, American companies are prohibited from providing certain IT services, including consulting, support and cloud services to businesses, including users in Russia.

Wix's decision to block accounts is due to new sanctions that affect IT and software that fall under the definition of business management and design. These sanctions apply to the export and sale of such services to Russian legal entities and individuals, with some exceptions, such as if the company in Russia is controlled by an American party. Under these restrictions, access to accounts will be completely terminated, and Russian users' sites will be removed from publication.

Such actions reflect the continued tightening of sanctions against Russia in response to its aggression in Ukraine, and these measures are aimed at further restricting opportunities for doing business with Russian companies and individuals in the technology sector.

The company's head office is located in Tel Aviv, Israel. Wix also has offices in major cities around the world, including New York, San Francisco, Miami, Los Angeles, Denver, as well as in countries such as Lithuania, Germany, Brazil, Ukraine (Dnipro, Kyiv, Lviv), Ireland, Canada, Japan, the United Kingdom, India, and Singapore.

Wix's work environment is unique: the team consists of professionals from four continents and 12 countries. The company values creativity, employee satisfaction, and supports them, even including snacks, beer, and candy for inspiration. Wix has attracted investment from major venture funds and serves more than 250 million users worldwide.

Wix offers various business solutions, including e-commerce, blogging, online galleries, social media promotion, and SEO optimization. It also offers the ability to integrate with various apps and services to improve the functionality of websites.

If you are not a resident of Russia, but your Wix account has been sanctioned, you can apply for an exemption by providing documents confirming your non-resident status (for example, utility bills or a certificate of residence for the last three months).

.......