Trump signed memo to allow use of cyber tools to target transnational criminal orgs, White House says

On August 12, U.S. President Donald Trump signed a memorandum aimed at empowering federal law enforcement agencies to utilize cyber tools against transnational criminal organizations that operate across foreign borders to target Americans, according to the White House. The White House released a fact sheet outlining the memo, which highlights the use of ransomware attacks, financial frauds, and other crimes perpetrated by foreign-based organized criminal groups.

The memo establishes a framework encouraging private sector companies to collaborate with other private entities and federal, state, local, tribal, and territorial agencies to exchange threat information and propose cyber operations to counter these threats.