The Central Intelligence Agency has expanded its covert operations online since 2018, when President Trump signed a secret order granting general authorization for such activities, according to a report by Yahoo News. The presidential order has allowed the CIA to more easily authorize its own cyber operations instead of requiring White House approval. A former United States government official said the order “gave the agency very specific authorities to offensively take the fight to a handful of adversary countries.”
The CIA has used its new power to create disruption in adversary countries like Iran and Russia. It allows the agency to participate in hacking and downloading operations similar to WikiLeaks, and to cause damage to infrastructure, such as petrochemical plants and banks. “Our government is basically turning into fucking WikiLeaks,” said a former United States official. The finding also reduces the burden of proof to take action.
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