GoKawiilVideo shows Putin casting Duma vote on Dell PC with unlicensed Windows
A televised clip of Vladimir Putin voting online in Russia's State Duma elections shows an 'Activate Windows' watermark on his screen, suggesting the machine was running an unlicensed copy of Windows on a Dell computer. The footage, circulated by outlets including Visegrad24, has drawn attention online, partly for the software issue and partly for mockery of Putin's mouse handling. State media outlet TASS confirmed the vote was for the 9th State Duma and noted that residents of annexed Ukrainian territories were voting in the elections for the first time.
The detail is a small but symbolic embarrassment for a government that projects technological self-reliance and cybersecurity strength, especially given software licensing costs are trivial for a head of state's office. It also feeds into broader scrutiny of the legitimacy and optics of elections held in newly annexed Ukrainian territories.
- Footage of Putin's online vote reportedly shows an unlicensed Windows watermark on his PC.
- The computer appeared to be a Dell machine, an unusual choice given geopolitical tensions with Western tech firms.
- The vote marked the first Duma elections including residents of Donetsk, Lugansk, Kherson, and Zaporozhye.
Microsoft Windows 11 Home — If even a head of state can get caught running an unlicensed copy of Windows, it's a good reminder to keep your own PC legit and activated. Grabbing a genuine Windows 11 license ensures you get full features, security updates, and no annoying activation watermark. It's a small investment for peace of mind and a smoother computing experience.
See Microsoft Windows 11 Home on Amazon → Affiliate link — we may earn a commission on purchases, at no extra cost to you. Product picked by AI based on this article; it is not a tested recommendation.Source: tomshardware.com — Mark Tyson, 2026-09-20
Published there as: “Putin casts online vote using unlicensed Windows on an American Dell PC”
Read the original report → The summary and analysis above are GoKawiil's own, written from reporting by the source above. Facts and quotes belong to the original publisher.