Trump enlists private sector cyber firms in new offensive against foreign criminal groups
The idea of private sector firms participating in cyber operations against criminal and other targets is not new, and has been controversial in the past.
President Donald Trump inked a memorandum on Wednesday aimed at empowering federal law enforcement to utilize cyber tools against transnational criminal organizations operating in foreign territories to target Americans. The White House emphasized the utilization of private sector capabilities and innovation to facilitate these cyber operations, all under the direction and control of the US government.
The document, released by the White House, highlighted the targeting of ransomware attacks, financial frauds, and other crimes orchestrated by foreign-based criminal groups, labeled as transnational criminal organizations. The memo proposed a framework enabling private sector entities to collaborate with other private organizations and federal, state, local, tribal, and territorial agencies to gather threat intelligence on these groups and propose cyber operations to counteract their threats.
The Department of Homeland Security, overseen by the National Coordination Center, was tasked with establishing a program to execute specific cyber operations against foreign transnational criminal organizations. Once companies have undergone vetting, they will engage in cyber surveillance and cyber effects operations against designated targets, all under federal supervision.
Cyber effects encompass the potential manipulation, disruption, denial, degradation, or destruction of information systems, networks, physical or virtual infrastructure controlled by information systems or residing within them. The memorandum stipulates that participating companies must maintain a bond or escrow account of at least $1 million.
While the concept of private sector firms participating in cyber operations against criminal targets is not novel and has previously sparked controversy due to concerns over escalation, inadvertent consequences, and inter-agency coordination issues, the White House and DHS have not yet provided further details on the program.
Written by urgent.news from Jerusalem Post's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — it may contain errors, so check the original before relying on it.
