The U.S. government is set to allow vetted private companies to conduct offensive cyber operations against international criminal groups and hackers for the first time. President Donald Trump signed a National Security Presidential Memorandum directing federal law enforcement to use cyber tools against transnational criminal organizations operating in foreign jurisdictions. This policy aims to leverage private sector capabilities to combat cybercrime, including ransomware and scams, by encouraging partnerships between private firms and government agencies to gather threat information and propose cyber operations.
The U.S. government will permit vetted private companies to launch offensive cyber operations against international criminal groups and hackers for the first time, according to a White House memorandum. President Donald Trump signed a National Security Presidential Memorandum directing federal law enforcement to use cyber tools against transnational criminal organizations operating in foreign jurisdictions. This new policy aims to leverage the advanced capabilities of the private sector to combat cybercrime, specifically mentioning ransomware and scams. The memorandum encourages private sector companies to partner with government agencies to gather threat intelligence and propose offensive cyber operations. This initiative represents a significant shift in how the U.S. government intends to address cyber threats originating from criminal organizations operating beyond U.S. borders.