Taking Additional Steps to Address Malicious Cyber-Enabled Activities
Jan 3, 2017
Jan 3, 2017
Summary
Adds to the government's power to freeze the money and property of people who use cyber attacks to interfere with U.S. elections.
What problem does this solve?
Cyber attacks are being used more often to harm democratic processes. This order lets the government freeze the assets of anyone involved in cyber attacks that interfere with elections.
What does this order do?
Targets election interference
Allows blocking the property of anyone who tampers with or misuses information to interfere with or undermine election processes or institutions.
Updates a previous executive order
Changes Executive Order 13694 to add new reasons for blocking property and to list specific people and groups in a new Annex.
Authorizes unblocking of property
Gives the Secretary of the Treasury power to unfreeze the property of a person if it is no longer necessary to block it.
Who does this affect?
- Foreign individuals and groups engaged in cyber attacks
- U.S. financial institutions
- U.S. government agencies
What is the real world impact?
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Responds to election interference
Provides a direct way to punish foreign groups or people who use cyber attacks to interfere with U.S. elections by freezing their money and property.
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Expands reasons for sanctions
Broadens an older rule to include tampering with election information. This makes it easier to punish a wider range of cyber threats.
When does this start?
Becomes effective at 12:01 a.m. EST on December 29, 2016.