DOJ Prioritizes Disruptions Over Arrests in Cyberattack Cases

The Department of Justice is requesting its prosecutors and investigators to focus less on prosecutions and more on disruption and protection when it comes to cyberattacks, according to US Deputy Attorney General Lisa Monaco, who spoke to attendees at the RSA Conference. 

Monaco agreed that there should be a “bias towards action to disrupt and prevent, to minimize harm if it’s ongoing […] and to take that action to prevent the next victim.”

That will not always result in a prosecution, Monaco said, adding that it’s difficult for a prosecutor to say.

“We’re not measuring our success only with courtroom actions and courtroom victories.” This transition is necessary because nation-states are increasingly collaborating with criminal organizations to facilitate global cyberattacks. 

“We took a hard look in the Justice Department and said, ‘how can we maximize our tools and what we can bring to this fight from a Justice Department perspective?'” she said. “We needed to pivot to disruption and prevention. We needed to put victims at the center of our approach.”