White House Authorizes Private Companies to Conduct Offensive Cyber Operations
Brief
The White House is creating a program that will allow vetted U. S. companies to conduct offensive cyber operations against foreign cybercrime groups under federal direction.
The presidential memorandum creates a formal path for private companies to perform work usually associated with government cyber operators. Participating firms could covertly access criminal systems, collect intelligence, disrupt networks, manipulate infrastructure, or destroy data after receiving approval from the Department of Justice and Department of Homeland Security.
Before you picture every company in America launching counterattacks against its hackers, the program comes with tight boundaries. Companies cannot act independently or retaliate on behalf of a customer whenever they detect an intrusion.