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A bold new strategy or a dangerous precedent? Experts are divided on Trump’s memo.

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government policy

A bold new strategy or a dangerous precedent? Experts are divided on Trump’s memo.

A new presidential memorandum authorizes private sector companies to conduct offensive cyber operations against transnational criminal organizations under federal supervision. Security experts remain divided on the approach, with supporters citing the need for speed and innovation against cybercriminals while critics raise concerns about attribution errors, legal ambiguity, targeting of U.S. citizens, and the precedent of delegating federal authority to private entities. The implementing agencies have 60 days to establish procedures for legal oversight, asset handling, and operational safeguards.

Why it matters: Security practitioners and private sector firms must understand the legal and operational risks of participating in government-authorized hacking operations, including potential liability for attribution errors, foreign government retaliation, and the unclear scope of what counts as a 'criminal organization' under the memo's terms.

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