The Justice Department has formed a task force to examine how federal law enforcement organizations can help address cybersecurity threats.
DOJ said Tuesday Attorney General Jeff Sessions asked the Cyber-Digital Task Force to produce a report about critical infrastructure interference efforts, internet misuse, information theft, internet-based law enforcement avoidance and cyber exploitation activities that target people and businesses in the country.
“The internet has given us amazing new tools that help us work, communicate and participate in our economy, but these tools can also be exploited by criminals, terrorists and enemy governments,†Sessions said in a statement.
He added the group will advise him on methods for the department to confront security challenges in cyberspace.
Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein will appoint a senior DOJ official to lead the task force that will consist of officials from the department’s criminal and national security divisions as well as the U.S. Attorney’s Office community, the Office of Legal Policy, the Office of Privacy and Civil Liberties and the Office of the Chief Information Officer.
Representatives from the FBI, Drug Enforcement Administration, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and U.S. Marshals Service will also serve as members of the task force.
Rosenstein also holds the authority to form subcommittees within the group or recruit additional members from other department components.
Sessions expects to receive the group’s report by the end of June.