Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

USA: Department of Justice’s new civil cyber-fraud initiative and its implications

  • Published:
International Cybersecurity Law Review Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

The US Department of Commerce relies more and more on the Federal Claims Act (FCA) to prosecute cybersecurity-related fraud against contractors, grantees and providers with a nexus to the United States. A new DOJ Cyber Fraud Initiative of lastOctober provides more guidance and contains broad whistleblower provisions. There are legal uncertainties and risks that come with this initiative.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

Notes

  1. https://www.justice.gov/opa/pr/two-arrested-alleged-conspiracy-launder-45-billion-stolen-cryptocurrency.

  2. https://www.justice.gov/opa/pr/russian-national-sentenced-providing-crypting-service-kelihos-botnet.

  3. General description of the FCA: https://www.justice.gov/civil/false-claims-act.

  4. See 31 U.S.C. § 3730.

  5. 31 U.S.C. § 3729.

  6. See DFARS 252.227-7012.

  7. FAR 52.239‑1.

  8. There are currently 16 critical infrastructure sectors in the US: the criterion is that their assets, systems, and networks, whether physical or virtual, are considered so vital to the United States that their incapacitation or destruction would have a debilitating effect on security, national economic security, national public health or safety, or any combination thereof. See https://www.cisa.gov/critical-infrastructure-sectors for a complete list.

  9. For instance Universal Health Servs., Inc. v. United States, 136 S. Ct. 1989, 2001 (2016).

  10. https://www.justice.gov/opa/pr/deputy-attorney-general-lisa-o-monaco-announces-new-civil-cyber-fraud-initiative.

  11. https://www.justice.gov/opa/speech/acting-assistant-attorney-general-brian-m-boynton-delivers-remarks-federal-bar.

  12. https://www.whitehouse.gov/briefing-room/statements-releases/2021/05/12/fact-sheet-president-signs-executive-order-charting-new-course-to-improve-the-nations-cybersecurity-and-protect-federal-government-networks/.

  13. https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2021/05/03/cybersecurity-202-justice-department-launched-120-day-review-into-its-cybersecurity-strategy/.

  14. https://www.justice.gov/opa/pr/deputy-attorney-general-lisa-o-monaco-announces-new-civil-cyber-fraud-initiative.

  15. See US ex rel. Adams v. Dell Computer, NO. 15-cv-608 (D.DC. 2020).

  16. https://www.justice.gov/opa/pr/medical-services-contractor-pays-930000-settle-false-claims-act-allegations-relating-medical.

Further reading

  1. US False Claims Act (FCA) - 31 U.S. Code § 3729. https://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/text/31/3729. Accessed: 7. Apr. 2022

  2. US Federal Acquisition Regulations (FAR) FAC Number: 2022-04, 52.239‑1 Effective Date: 01/30/2022. https://www.acquisition.gov/far/52.239-1. Accessed: 7. Apr. 2022

  3. Defense Acquisition Regulation Systems (DFARS) 252.227-7012. https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/CFR-2010-title48-vol3/pdf/CFR-2010-title48-vol3-sec252-227-7012.pdf. Accessed: 7. Apr. 2022

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Morgan Lewis & Bockius, LLP1111 Pennsylvania Avenue NW, Washington DC, 20004, USA

    Axel Spies

Authors
  1. Axel Spies
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Axel Spies.

Additional information

Publisher’s Note

Springer Nature remains neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims in published maps and institutional affiliations.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Spies, A. USA: Department of Justice’s new civil cyber-fraud initiative and its implications. Int. Cybersecur. Law Rev. 3, 139–145 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1365/s43439-022-00050-1

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1365/s43439-022-00050-1

Keywords

Search

Navigation