August 27, 2026
Why Empowering Private Companies to Fight Cybercrime Had to Happen
This article was originally published in The Washington Post.
Technology, especially in cyberspace, is rapidly shifting the center point of national security from the public to the private sector. For decades, the borderless, predominantly civilian-owned and -operated environment of cyberspace has placed individuals and companies on the front lines of cybercrime and conflict, while the government has struggled to keep pace with the speed and scale of these threats.
There is no question that the government needs to adapt to the reality of the evolving civilianization of the security environment. It should do so boldly, quickly, but carefully.
Whether the Trump administration’s recent national security presidential memorandum on cybercrime is a step in the right direction or the opening of a Pandora’s box is uncertain. But it is at least recognition that the status quo is unsustainable.
Read the full article in The Washington Post.
More from CNAS
-
Technology & National Security
From Classified to Commercial: Anthony Vinci on Intelligence, AI, and Forecasting the FutureGary Hensley talks with Anthony Vinci, adjunct senior fellow at the Center for a New American Security, CEO of Vico.io, former intelligence officer, and author of The Fourth I...
By Anthony Vinci
-
Technology & National Security
The Geostrategic Case for Compute in AustraliaJanet Egan is Senior Fellow and Deputy Director of the Technology and National Security Program at the Center for a New American Security in Washington, DC. Her research focus...
By Janet Egan
-
Technology & National Security
CNAS Insights | Sovereign AI’s Second Wave Is Coming Into ViewEarlier this year, CNAS launched the Sovereign AI Index to track every government-backed sovereign AI project since 2023. These projects seek to improve a country’s AI self-re...
By Pablo Chavez, Vivek Chilukuri & Ruby Scanlon
-
Technology & National Security
Is AI All Hype or the Real Deal?Anthony Vinci, an adjunct senior fellow at the Center for a New American Security, joins Eyes on Geopolitics to break down the rapidly evolving AI landscape, from China’s grow...
By Anthony Vinci
