Trump signed memo to allow use of cyber tools to target transnational criminal organisations, White House says
· CNA · JoinRead a summary of this article on FAST.
Get bite-sized news via a new
cards interface. Give it a try.
Click here to return to FAST Tap here to return to FAST
FAST
United States President Donald Trump signed a memo on Wednesday (Aug 12) that the White House said was aimed at empowering federal law enforcement to use cyber tools against transnational criminal organisations that operate in foreign jurisdictions to attack Americans.
Trump signed the national security presidential memorandum directing his administration to "leverage the capability and innovation of the private sector to help conduct these cyber operations under the direction, control, and authority of the US Government", the White House said.
The White House, in a fact sheet about the memo, cited ransomware attacks, financial frauds and other crimes run by foreign-based criminal organisations, referred to in the memo as "transnational criminal organisations".
The memo creates a framework that encourages private sector companies to enter into agreements with other private entities, as well as federal, state, local, tribal, and territorial agencies to gather threat information on transnational criminal organisations and propose cyber operations to address those threats, the White House added.
CNA Games
Guess Word
Crack the word, one row at a time
Buzzword
Create words using the given letters
Mini Sudoku
Tiny puzzle, mighty brain teaser
Mini Crossword
Small grid, big challenge
Word Search
Spot as many words as you can
Show More
Show Less
The memo directs the Department of Homeland Security, through the Homeland Security Task Force's National Coordination Center, to create a program "to conduct specific cyber operations that disrupt foreign TCOs" that will be overseen by DHS and the Department of Justice.
Under the supervision of the federal government, participating companies, once vetted, will conduct "cyber surveillance operations" and "cyber effects operations" against specified targets, according to the memo.
"Cyber effects includes the potential manipulation, disruption, denial, degradation, or destruction of information systems, networks, physical or virtual infrastructure controlled by information systems, or information resident thereon," according to the memo.
Participating companies will have to maintain a bond or escrow of at least US$1 million, according to the memo.
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, for fears of escalation, inadvertent consequences, and inter-agency coordination issues.
DHS and the White House did not immediately respond to requests for additional details about the program.
Sign up for our newsletters
Get our pick of top stories and thought-provoking articles in your inbox
Get the CNA app
Stay updated with notifications for breaking news and our best stories
Get WhatsApp alerts
Join our channel for the top reads for the day on your preferred chat app