US Authorizes Private Firms to Conduct Offensive Cyberattacks Against Foreign Criminals

The Trump administration has signed a national security presidential memorandum that, for the first time, authorizes private sector companies to conduct offensive cyber operations against foreign criminal entities. The memorandum directs the administration to leverage private sector capabilities to surveil and disrupt transnational criminal organizations, with operations conducted under the direction, control, and authority of the US government. This move, reported by multiple outlets including Ars Technica, The Guardian, and The Verge, marks a significant shift in US cyber policy, echoing the Revolutionary War-era strategy of employing civilians to battle adversaries.