Small Wars Journal

Trump Gives the Military More Latitude to Use Offensive Cyber Tools Against Adversaries

Fri, 08/17/2018 - 5:11am

Trump Gives the Military More Latitude to Use Offensive Cyber Tools Against Adversaries by Ellen Nakashima – Washington Post

The Trump administration has moved to give the military more latitude to conduct offensive cyber operations against American adversaries, continuing an effort begun last year to grant commanders more leeway to make battlefield decisions.

President Trump on Wednesday signed an order delegating authority to the defense secretary to use cyber tools and techniques to disrupt or degrade an adversary’s network or choke off attacks underway, loosening rules established under the Obama administration.

The move comes as the administration is focused on deterring Russian efforts to disrupt the November election and, more broadly, to undermine U.S. democracy. Although Trump has sent mixed signals on the issue, his administration, from Vice President Pence on down, has warned Russia that it will not tolerate foreign interference in American politics…

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