Executive Order On Sanctions Against Hackers: CNN

On Wednesday, President Obama announced an executive order that allows the Treasury Department to impose sanctions against cyber hackers who impose a significant threat to national security, states CNN.

“This Executive Order authorizes the Secretary of the Treasury, in consultation with the Attorney General and the Secretary of State, to impose sanctions on individuals or entities that engage in malicious cyber-enabled activities that create a significant threat to the national security, foreign policy, or economic health or financial stability of the United States,” the President said In a statement announcing the order.

Last November, there was a cyber attack on Sony Pictures that the FBI pinned on North Korea.

At the time Obama questioned Sony’s decision to pull its movie “The Interview.”

According to The Christian Science Monitor, the new executive order authorizes the Secretary of the Treasury, in consultation with the Attorney General and the Secretary of State, to sanction malicious cyber actors whose actions threaten the national security, foreign policy, or economic health or financial stability of the United States.

In January the White House imposed sanctions against officials within the North Korean government as part of what Obama called a “proportional response” to the Sony hacking.

Trial To Look At The Role Of Online Bullying In Suicide Death

A 15-year-old California girl hanged herself a week after three classmates photographed themselves sexually assaulting her at a 2012 party.  She reportedly was petrified the boys would circulate the photos online and believed gossip about her was spreading widely, according to philly.com.

And perhaps it was spreading widely.

Audrie Pott’s story has captivated those concerned with teen bullying, which appears to be on the rise with the help of smartphones and social media.

A wrongful death trial this month in San Jose will determine whether bullying played a role in the girl’s suicide.  What do you think?

Lawyers are scheduled to argue Wednesday over what evidence the jury will hear, while opening statements are expected to start next week.

The three boys, now high school seniors, and other teens are expected to deliver uncomfortable and emotional testimony about the party where Audrie was sexually assaulted after passing out drunk, as well as about other events leading up to her death.

More:

http://www.philly.com/philly/news/nation_world/20150401_ap_c91ac5b60cfe4300b4b025211c45233a.html#ypFjfzPHVlidtX2s.99