Trump signed memo to allow use of cyber tools to target transnational criminal orgs, White House says

President Donald Trump has signed a national security presidential memorandum aimed at bolstering the use of cyber tools against transnational criminal organizations. The White House announced Wednesday that the memo directs the administration to "leverage the capability and innovation of the private sector to help conduct these cyber operations under the direction, control, and authority of the U.S. Government."

The White House stated the initiative is a response to crimes such as ransomware attacks, financial frauds, and other illicit activities orchestrated by organized criminal groups operating in foreign jurisdictions. The new framework encourages private sector companies to collaborate with federal, state, local, tribal, and territorial agencies.

These partnerships will focus on gathering threat intelligence on transnational criminal organizations and proposing cyber operations to counter these threats. The goal is to create a more robust system for addressing cybercrimes that impact Americans.

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leverage the capability and innovation of the private sector to help conduct these cyber operations under the direction, control, and authority of the U.S. Government