Any digital operation that could disrupt, destroy, or manipulate computers or is “reasonably likely to result in significant consequences” also requires presidential approval. Significant consequences include loss of life, damage to property, and serious economic impact, as well as possible retaliation against the United States or adverse effects on foreign policy. Presidential authorization is also required to plant a logic bomb in a foreign system or a beacon marking it for later attack. But is not needed for espionage operations that are conducted for the sake of simply collecting data or
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