One has to wonder when the 'combating terrorists' (non-state actors) rhetoric will end, especially when it clearly is at the very bottom of the list of objectives regarding internet surveillance. All of this public-private cooperation seems to indicate that the USG is gearing up for an offensive against other state actors (or it's already in progress).
People who self-identify as 'pirates' sometimes refer to the internet as 'the open seas' (similarly representing freedom from oppression and authoritarianism) so it's interesting to see governments establishing 'internet navies' with offensive capabilities given as much attention as defensive capabilities.
You want to be authorized by a national government to conduct cyber-warfare activities on their behalf? I think these analogies are becoming a bit strained, U.S. Coast Guard handles law enforcement on the seas, not the Navy.
Well, not strictly cyber-warfare warfare. And military, not law enforcement; at least, military-like activities against non-state actors. (Ron Paul actually proposed this both as the response to 9-11 and the Somali Pirates...)
Isn't it alleged that the chinese government does exactly that?
I seem to remember stories about quasi-government hacker groups. Of course that may very well have been spin that allowed those doing that reporting to blame the chinese government for the actions of their civilians.
People who self-identify as 'pirates' sometimes refer to the internet as 'the open seas' (similarly representing freedom from oppression and authoritarianism) so it's interesting to see governments establishing 'internet navies' with offensive capabilities given as much attention as defensive capabilities.