emptywheel

Yes, that's also true,but I'm not sure I see your point. We identified actors behind keyboards. Is it best to just shrug it off?

This is a diplomatic issue, not a criminal one. DOJ assumes that by charging hackers they'll discourage others from wanting to do the work.

Yes, and I admit that that assumption is not proven. But I'm also not sure what a real diplomatic solution would look like, or whether it could actually be effective. I think this indictment is a pretty reasonable action, all considered.

It's easy to see indictment as "a pretty reasonable action" when it likely won't happen to you. Are you okay with foreign nations charging US government hackers?

Have their been cases before of US persons being charged by a foreign govt for cyber espionage? That would be a fascinating read.

Thank you! Although I do think this is a bit different b/c he [allegedly] was a spy and directly went to Iran and got caught there. Are you aware of any cases of foreign criminal cases involving US hackers stationed in the US? (1/2)

(2/2) It's interesting to me how I see cases of foreign national hackers being identified and charged for specific cyber operations/espionage but barely nothing involving similar cases with hackers within our IC.

Espionage of any kind is illegal in every country. Jake is right about the need for norms. It's a game with gentleman's rules, and with CNE, we're still figuring out what those are.

Norms. We need international norms.

There are norms (even laws) about what you do when you capture a spy or soldier working in a recognized nation-state role. But not for hackers.