Online scams, ransomware attacks and digital fraud have evolved into some of the most sophisticated transnational criminal enterprises in the world. Organized scam centers now operate across borders, running large-scale operations that target Americans through phishing, financial fraud and sextortion schemes.
Yet too often in Washington, the policy response focuses on regulating American technology companies rather than going after the criminal networks actually responsible.
President Donald Trump’s March 6, 2026 Executive Order takes a different approach, targeting the transnational criminal organizations behind these operations and strengthening international cooperation to disrupt them.
The order reflects an important shift in cybercrime policy: stopping the criminal networks behind scams rather than regulating the platforms they exploit.
The Real Front Line Against Online Fraud
While policymakers debate how to address cybercrime, technology companies have already been investing heavily in detecting scams and disrupting the networks behind them. They want their users to enjoy their experience on their services, not to be harmed by criminals and turn away from them.
Meta, for example, has developed a Scam Prevention Hub that combines artificial intelligence (AI) tools with direct coordination with law enforcement. In the first half of 2025 alone, the company removed 12 million accounts linked to scam centers and more than 134 million scam advertisements across its services. Google has deployed machine-learning systems across Search, Gmail and Android to detect phishing attempts and malicious websites, blocking billions of scam messages and fraudulent pages before they ever reach users. And Amazon created a Counterfeit Crimes Unit that partners with investigators around the world to identify and prosecute organized fraud and counterfeiting networks targeting consumers.
None of these initiatives were mandated by regulation; they developed because digital services have strong incentives to protect users and maintain trust in their ecosystems. The scale and speed of these voluntary efforts show how much progress can be made when industry expertise and law enforcement capabilities work together.
Why International Pressure Matters
The Executive Order also recognizes another reality about modern cybercrime: the infrastructure behind it is often located outside the United States.
Many large scam operations operate from overseas compounds or jurisdictions where enforcement is weak or corrupt. These networks rely on cross-border coordination, stolen identities and global digital infrastructure to target victims thousands of miles away.
That makes diplomatic pressure and international enforcement critical tools.
By directing the Secretary of State to consider sanctions, visa restrictions, trade penalties and other measures against governments that harbor scam operations, the administration acknowledges that cybercrime is a foreign policy issue in addition to a law enforcement challenge. The order’s direction for the Attorney General to prioritize the most serious and provable cybercrime offenses likewise helps ensure federal resources remain focused on the criminals causing the greatest harm.
Building on What Works
The Executive Order represents an important step toward a more coherent response to online fraud. Its emphasis on international pressure, targeted enforcement and collaboration reflects a recognition that cybercrime is a global problem driven by organized criminal networks.
Success will ultimately depend on how the government works with the private sector. Technology services already play a central role in identifying scams, tracking malicious infrastructure and sharing threat intelligence. Policies that strengthen those partnerships will be far more effective than regulatory approaches that treat companies as adversaries.
Cybercrime is a fast-moving challenge no single institution can address alone.