Private Hackers in the Cyber War | Salt Lake City News

Salt Lake City News Today | 2 Min News | The Daily News Now! · Jul 22, 2026 · 1m

Senator Mike Lee is reviving his controversial Cyber Letters of Marque and Reprisal Act, proposing to let the president authorize private hackers to hunt down foreign cybercriminals — essentially turning digital pirates into government-sanctioned privateers. The bill would let these private actors seize assets from cybercriminals, with proceeds split between the criminals’ victims and the U.S. Treasury. Inspired by historical privateers and even echoed by Utah author Rick Bennett, the idea sparks debate: could private, profit-driven forces effectively police cyberspace — or does it open the…