Trump Signs Memo Allowing Private Sector Cyber Ops on Criminal Gangs
The Spin
Pro-government narrative
The threat from cybercrime is real, with foreign criminal gangs draining life savings and ruining families through ransomware and scams. Leveraging the private sector to combat this danger makes sense, given its technical capabilities and rapid deployment. Using contracts, bonds and mandatory reporting, meanwhile, will keep these companies accountable and under government control.
Government-critical narrative
Handing cyber operations to private companies rings hollow when the administration has gutted the very agencies meant to defend against cybercrime. Under Trump, key cybersecurity positions sit vacant, staff have been slashed by a third and budgets face further cuts, wiping out decades of experience. Outsourcing offense to corporations will not make up for the government failing to keep its own defenses standing.
Metaculus Prediction
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