Bill > HR4988

This bill authorizes the President of the United States to issue letters of marque and reprisal (a historical legal concept allowing private entities to conduct authorized hostile actions against foreign targets) specifically targeting criminal enterprises and individuals involved in cybercrimes. The legislation defines cybercrime broadly, including offenses such as unauthorized computer access, national security information breaches, fraud, ransomware attacks, cryptocurrency theft, and identity theft. Under the bill, the President can commission privately armed and equipped persons to seize the persons and property of identified cybercriminals outside U.S. territorial boundaries, but must require a security bond to ensure adherence to the letter of marque's terms. The bill's findings emphasize that these criminal enterprises represent an extraordinary threat to U.S. economic and national security, and it draws constitutional authority from Article I, Section 8, which grants Congress the power to issue letters of marque and reprisal. Notably, the bill's definition of "criminal enterprise" is expansive, explicitly including foreign governments, which suggests a potential tool for addressing state-sponsored cybercrime.

Military Affairs and Security

https://www.congress.gov/bill/119th-congress/house-bill/4988/all-info