Trump Memo Letting U.S. Firms Join Offensive Cyber Ops Exposes New National Vulnerability
A new memo signed by Donald Trump authorizes private American companies to conduct government-directed cyber attacks, blurring the line between state and corporate hackers. The move could change how wars are fought in networks and boardrooms alike, putting U.S. firms, their employees and foreign targets squarely inside a new kind of battlespace.
Allowing private companies to help carry out offensive cyber operations on behalf of the U.S. government moves corporate America closer to the front line of conflict than at any point in the internet era. That is the consequence of a newly signed memo by President Donald Trump authorizing private U.S. firms to participate in government-directed cyber attacks, according to information emerging on 13 August. The memo, signed in Washington and reported at 09:27 UTC, authorizes privately owned American companies to conduct cyber attacks when directed by the U.S. government. Details on the scope of operations, legal frameworks, and oversight mechanisms have not been made public, and there is no indication…
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