Sunday July 3, 2022
  • Venezuela
  • Mexico
  • Colombia
  • Chile
  • Brazil
  • Argentina
  • Podcast
Versión Español
PanAm Post
  • Home
  • Regions
    • South America
    • North America
    • Central America
    • Caribbean
  • Politics
  • Economics
  • Opinion
  • Podcast
  • Authors
  • Contact
No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • Regions
    • South America
    • North America
    • Central America
    • Caribbean
  • Politics
  • Economics
  • Opinion
  • Podcast
  • Authors
  • Contact
No Result
View All Result
PanAm Post
No Result
View All Result

Home » Seizer-in-Chief Obama Eyes Cyber Hackers’ Goods

Seizer-in-Chief Obama Eyes Cyber Hackers’ Goods

Yaël Ossowski by Yaël Ossowski
April 4, 2015
in Technology
0
0
SHARES
0
VIEWS
FacebookTwitterTelegramWhatsapp
US President Barack Obama has signed an executive order that declares hacking a “national emergency” and imposes sanctions to seize their property and effects. (@Independent)
US President Barack Obama has signed an executive order that declares hacking a “national emergency” and imposes sanctions to seize their property and effects. (@Independent)

If cyber hackers are aiming their malicious code at US companies or government bureaus, they now face the wrath of brutal sanctions.

That’s the latest law of the land to come from President Barack Obama’s pen — a new executive order signed on Wednesday in which he declared cyber attacks a “national emergency” and ordered the punishment and sanction of foreign hackers.

RelatedArticles

Maduro’s “Miracle Drops” Against COVID-19 Pass Twitter’s Filter

Birdwatch: Twitter’s Tool to Turn Users into Digital Cops

January 26, 2021
United States Deployed Warship to Cape Verde to Prevent Alex Saab’s Escape

United States Has Once Again Set its Sights on Space with Donald Trump

December 23, 2020

Obama will wield this authority on any individual deemed to be involved in “cyber-enabled activity” that is likely to result in a “significant threat to national security, foreign policy, or economic health or financial stability of the United States.”

This is perhaps the strongest declaration yet against foreign hackers by the federal government, now prepared to use the same sanctions it uses against members of the Iranian and Russian regimes to specifically target those looking to penetrate US infrastructure, whether public or private.

Considering that cybersecurity is at the forefront of Obama’s agenda, having been mentioned as a key topic in his 2013 State of the Union address, it’s no surprise he’s pumping up executive action to match his rhetoric.

But that action also leaves plenty of room for interpretation and abuse, especially if harmless online antics are interpreted as major threats to national security.

“Remarkable that denial-of-service attacks are on the list of actions that risk U.S. sanctions,” tweeted cybersecurity expert and author Joseph Menn. “They are trivial, cheap and ubiquitous.”

Indeed, by extending the state of emergency to any cyber activity that threatens the foreign policy or economy of the United States, Obama is casting a wide net never before seen in US law.

A 2013 executive order signed by Obama addressed the dangers posed by foreign intrusion into domestic computer networks, but focused on pressing private companies to share “cybersecurity information” with the government.

That was mostly as a result of the presumed “9/11-Pearl Harbor-sized attacks” often invoked by members of US Senate and House committees on technology.

This action by Obama points to the uproar over the hacks that occurred at Sony Pictures, threatening to shut down the screening of the anti-North Korean film The Interview and the publishing of thousands of emails of movie stars and executives online.

The White House initially claimed with certainty it was caused by North Korean hackers, without providing direct evidence, but many independent security researchers still doubt this claim. But that didn’t stop the president from signing new sanctions on North Korea into law just a few weeks later.

Obama’s latest budget proposal seeks US$14 billion for federal cybersecurity efforts, mostly centered on the Department of Defense.

This article first appeared on Watchdog.org.

Tags: barack obamaunited states
Previous Post

Leaders, Laureates, and Loved Ones Denounce Maduro in Lima

Next Post

Iran Takes Venezuelan Money, Passes on Deliveries

Yaël Ossowski

Yaël Ossowski

Yaël Ossowski is a journalist, writer, and consumer advocate. He's currently deputy director at the Consumer Choice Center, and senior development officer for Students For Liberty. He was previously a national investigative reporter at Watchdog.org. He has a Master’s Degree in Philosophy, Politics, Economics (PPE) from the CEVRO Institute in Prague and a Bachelor's in Political Science from Concordia University, Montreal. Born in Québec and raised in the southern United States, he currently lives in Vienna, Austria.

Related Posts

Maduro’s “Miracle Drops” Against COVID-19 Pass Twitter’s Filter
Politics

Birdwatch: Twitter’s Tool to Turn Users into Digital Cops

January 26, 2021
United States Deployed Warship to Cape Verde to Prevent Alex Saab’s Escape
United States

United States Has Once Again Set its Sights on Space with Donald Trump

December 23, 2020
Esequiba, the Rich Territory Venezuela May Lose due to Regime Negligence
United States

Where Did the Massive Hacking of the US Government Originate?

December 21, 2020
Latin America COVID-19, Digital Economy
Economics

Latin America: COVID-19 Threatens Promise of Digital Economy

September 29, 2020
Performative Militancy, Social networks
Featured

Performative Militancy of Mass Consumption

May 14, 2020
bitcoin versus gold
Regulations

How a Bitcoin System is Like and Unlike a Gold Standard

March 12, 2018
Next Post
Iran Takes Venezuelan Money, Passes on Deliveries

Iran Takes Venezuelan Money, Passes on Deliveries

Subscribe free and never miss another breaking story

  • Venezuela
  • Mexico
  • Colombia
  • Chile
  • Brazil
  • Argentina
  • Podcast

© 2020 PanAm Post - Design & Develop by NEW DREAM GLOBAL CORP. - Privacy policy

No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • Regions
    • South America
    • North America
    • Central America
    • Caribbean
  • Politics
  • Economics
  • Opinion
  • Podcast
  • Authors
  • Contact

© 2020 PanAm Post - Design & Develop by NEW DREAM GLOBAL CORP. - Privacy policy

We use cookies to ensure that we give you the best experience on our website. If you continue to use this site we will assume that you are happy with it. Privacy and Cookie Policy.