Cyber Letters of Marque and Reprisal Act

This bill would allow the President to issue "cyber letters of marque and reprisal," which are federal permits letting private persons and companies carry out cyber operations against foreign individuals or groups the President names as cyberthreats. Permit holders could disrupt, seize, and bring back assets of these targets located outside the United States, including cryptocurrency, and could use malware and other offensive tools as needed. Holders would have to post a security bond, keep activity logs for at least 5 years, and could not knowingly target U.S. citizens or entities. Recovered funds could pay for bounties and rewards, with leftover funds going to the federal Crime Victims Fund, and permit holders could not be sued for acts their permit expressly authorizes.

Full text and official record on Congress.gov

Sponsors

• Tim Burchett Republican sponsor
• 0 cosponsors