President Donald Trump has signed a memorandum authorising vetted private American companies to carry out offensive cyber operations against foreign criminal networks for the first time in US history. The move marks a significant shift in Washington's approach to tackling cybercrime, positioning private firms as active participants rather than bystanders.
The memorandum, signed on 12 August and titled 'Expanding Capabilities to Combat Transnational Cyber-Enabled Crime', comes after the White House said American consumers reported losing more than $20.8 billion (£16.3bn) to cyber-enabled crime in 2025.
