Cyber Letters of Marque and Reprisal Act

This bill, known as the Cyber Letters of Marque and Reprisal Act, authorizes the President to issue official commissions to private individuals or companies, allowing them to conduct specific cyber operations against foreign entities identified as cyberthreats. Under these commissions, private actors could perform tasks such as collecting intelligence, seizing stolen digital assets, and disrupting malicious infrastructure outside U.S. borders, provided they do not target American citizens or organizations. To participate, recipients must post a security bond, maintain detailed activity logs for at least five years, and may be required to forfeit a portion of recovered funds to support a bounty program for future operations. The legislation also grants holders immunity from lawsuits for actions explicitly authorized by their commission and establishes a framework for awarding bounties to both commissioned agents and private informants who assist in recovering funds from cybercriminals.