President can order preemptive cyberattacks if needed

[InfoSec News <alerts () infosecnews org>]

https://www.computerworld.com/s/article/9236535/President_can_order_preemptive_cyberattacks_if_needed

By Jaikumar Vijayan
Computerworld
February 5, 2013

A secret review of American policies governing the use of cyberweapons has 
concluded that President Barack Obama has the broad power to order pre-emptive 
strikes on any country preparing to launch a major digital attack against the 
U.S.

The review is part of an ongoing effort by the Administration to develop new 
ground rules for U.S. engagement in cyberspace. Over the next few weeks the 
administration will work on approving rules for how the military can defend or 
retaliate against cyberattacks launched by unfriendly nation states, according 
to a report in The New York Times.

The rules will also spell out how far U.S. intelligence agencies can go in 
looking for and mitigating imminent threats against U.S. assets in cyberspace, 
The Times reported, quoting unnamed sources. It would spell out situations 
where the military, with presidential approval, would be allowed to go out and 
preemptively inject destructive code on an adversary's networks, the report 
noted.

The order would also provide for exceptions where the military would be 
permitted to carry out preemptive cyberattacks of a tactical nature where 
executive approval would not be necessary

[...]


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