# Trump lets private firms conduct cyber operations against foreign criminals 2026-08-13T01:45:25+00:00 | World & Diplomacy | Indian Opinion Desk Corroboration: 2 independent outlets President Donald Trump has signed a memorandum authorising private companies to carry out cyber operations against transnational criminal organisations operating outside the United States, the White House said on Wednesday. The directive allows vetted firms to use cyber tools to identify, surveil and disrupt foreign criminal networks under the oversight of the Departments of Justice and Homeland Security. The White House cited ransomware attacks and financial frauds as targets. Former US cyber officials have raised concerns. Andrew Schoka, a former Army officer at US Cyber Command, told Times Now that the risk is "a bunch of cyber privateers running around without any clear coordination." Cynthia Kaiser, a former senior FBI cyber official, warned that details on liability protections and oversight would be critical. The memorandum provides legal review for operations directed at US persons but has drawn questions about safeguards for broader activities. ## Coverage - deccanherald.com - timesnownews.com Tags: cyber operations, Donald Trump, transnational crime, US policy, White House Canonical: https://indianopinion.org/trump-signs-memo-allowing-cyber-tools-against-foreign-crime-groups/ License: Summary and commentary (c) Indian Opinion, reusable with attribution. Facts belong to the linked sources. Cite: https://indianopinion.org/trump-signs-memo-allowing-cyber-tools-against-foreign-crime-groups/#story-in-brief Review state: restored archive article, accurate at time of publication, not offered to search indexes.