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Obama creates sanctions on cyberattacks, declares national emergency

The White House defines cyberattacks as activities that harm or significantly compromise services, among others.

By Andrew V. Pestano
President Barack Obama announced the sanctions and declared the national emergency over cyberattacks on Wednesday. File Photo by Kevin Dietsch/UPI.
President Barack Obama announced the sanctions and declared the national emergency over cyberattacks on Wednesday. File Photo by Kevin Dietsch/UPI. | License Photo

WASHINGTON, April 1 (UPI) -- President Barack Obama announced on Wednesday a new program of sanctions directed at nations and people outside the United States who participate in cyberattacks.

The Executive Order, "Blocking the Property of Certain Persons Engaging in Significant Malicious Cyber-Enabled Activities," authorizes the Secretary of the Treasury to impose sanctions on people or entities who conduct malicious cyberattacks that resulted in or contributed to a significant threat to United States.

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"The increasing prevalence and severity of malicious cyber-enabled activities originating from... outside the United States constitute an unusual and extraordinary threat to the national security, foreign policy, and economy of the United States," Obama wrote in the order. "I hereby declare a national emergency to deal with this threat."

The Treasury Department can freeze assets or lock access to banking systems as punishment. The Treasury secretary would have to consult with the Attorney General and the Secretary of State to impose sanctions.

"Starting today, we're giving notice to those who pose significant threats to our security or economy by damaging our critical infrastructure, disrupting or hijacking our computer networks, or stealing the trade secrets of American companies or the personal information of American citizens for profit," Obama wrote.

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According to The White House, cyberattacks can be defined as:

• Harming or significantly compromising the provision of services by entities in a critical infrastructure sector. • Significantly disrupting the availability of a computer or network of computers, including through a distributed denial-of-service attack. • Misappropriating funds or economic resources, trade secrets, personal identifiers, or financial information for commercial or competitive advantage or private financial gain. • Knowingly receiving or using trade secrets that were stolen by cyber-enabled means for commercial or competitive advantage or private financial gain. • Attempting, assisting, or providing material support for any of the harms listed above.

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