Trump signs memo calling for cyber privateers to conduct cyberattacks abroad against criminal groups targeting Americans — but they have to escrow $1 million to join

Trump wants cyber privateers to attack foreign criminal groups

by · TechRadar

News By Benedict Collins Published 13 August 2026

(Image credit: Shutterstock)

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  • US government to allow private firms to conduct legal cyberattacks on foreign organizations targeting Americans
  • Firms will be allowed to disrupt and destroy physical and virtual information systems and networks
  • US victims of cyber scams and fraud lose around $20,000

President Trump has signed a memo which allows private US firms to partner with the US government in operations designed to surveille and disrupt Transnational Criminal Organizations (TCOs).

According to the memo, the partnership “will enhance our ability to counter TCO threats and combat transnational cybercrime, fraud, and other predatory schemes against American citizens,” essentially turning private companies into privateers with the ability to launch cyber attacks against foreign entities.

The memo marks a significant shift in how the US tackles foreign cybercrime. “American businesses’ innovative capabilities have historically been underutilized in efforts to identify and disrupt criminal networks operating in cyberspace,” the memo states. But what does this actually mean in practice?

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US to leverage private sector for cyber defense

The US is the most targeted country in the world for cyber attacks and cybercrime, with 6.7 million victims losing $138.9 billion in the last year, placing the average loss per-victim at around $20,731.

The program will effectively create a global cyber surveillance network that acts as an early warning system against attacks targeting critical national infrastructure, such as the recent Iranian attacks targeting over 30 US water systems. Private companies that “discover an imminent cyber-attack against United States critical infrastructure” will be required to notify the National Coordination Center (NCC).

The US government isn’t just looking to work alongside the big tech companies. Big companies will be part of the picture to “provide critical capacity,” but smaller companies will also have the opportunity to become involved with the program as they are “more agile,” and “may be better suited for specialized or discrete tasks.”

When a threat is detected, private companies will put together a “cyber operations package” to be reviewed and approved by the Program Executive Directors. These packages will likely include plans for surveillance and offensive cyber operations.

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