us policy4 articles
Trump Signs Off on Private Sector Hack-Back Operations Against Cybercriminals
President Trump has signed a memo authorising US government agencies to contract private cybersecurity firms to conduct offensive cyber operations — including surveillance and network disruption — against cyber-enabled transnational criminal organisations (CE-TCOs), excluding entities acting on behalf of foreign governments. Participating companies must undergo rigorous vetting, meet annual technical evaluations, maintain at least $1 million in bond or escrow, and are prohibited from operations that could cause loss of life or be considered an act of war. Legal experts have raised concerns about whether existing laws, particularly the Computer Fraud and Abuse Act, adequately cover private companies conducting such government-directed operations, though a key exemption may offer some protection.
US Bans Foreign Robots: Who Gains, Who Gets Hurt, and Why the Drone Precedent Should Worry Everyone
The US FCC has banned imports of foreign-made advanced mobile robots — including humanoid robots, quadrupeds, and most robot vacuums — citing national security concerns, with the rules applying not only to Chinese manufacturers but also to allied nations like Japan, South Korea, and Germany. Exemptions include small robots under 4.4 pounds, stationary industrial arms, medical devices, drones, and road vehicles, as well as existing previously-authorised models. While some industry figures have praised the move as a boost to domestic robotics, analysts warn it could backfire by cutting off US researchers and startups from affordable platforms before comparable American alternatives are available, echoing the limited success of earlier drone bans.
US Slams the Door on Foreign Robots Over Security and Supply Chain Fears
The US government has effectively banned the import of advanced foreign-made robots, citing national security and supply chain risks, including vulnerabilities to data theft, remote disruption, and dependency on potentially hostile foreign entities. The FCC has added such devices to its Covered List of prohibited imports, with exceptions for devices approved by the Department of War and foreign-owned companies that manufacture their robots within the United States. Existing approved devices can continue to be imported and used, but the policy signals a clear shift toward requiring robots sold in America to be made in America.
US Pulls the Visa Rug from Under Foreign Cybercriminals
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio has announced that the US will deny visas to foreign nationals involved in cybercrime and cyber-enabled scams, with restrictions potentially extending to their immediate families. The policy targets overseas fraudsters — particularly Chinese transnational criminal organisations — who defrauded American citizens of over $10 billion in 2024 through investment scams and sextortion schemes. The restrictions draw on Section 212(a)(3)(C) of the Immigration and Nationality Act, a provision Rubio has previously used to impose visa bans on foreign officials who suppress free expression and workers who facilitated illegal immigration.