The document, signed by Barack Obama in October 2012, is called "Presidential Policy Directive 20" (PPD-20) and starts by explicitly stating that the directive "supersedes National Security Presidential Directive (NSPD)-38", which was a document authorizing U.S. government power to conduct surveillance through monitoring.The top secret document describes two main subjects, these are Defensive Cyber Effects Operations (DCEO) and Offensive Cyber Effects Operations (OCEO). Each of these are described as operations and related programs or activities conducted by or on behalf of the U.S. Government to protect against threats against national interests or to produce cyber effects outside of U.S. Government networks respectively.
One of the notable capabilities that are provided as a part of this top-secret document is that "OCEO can offer unique and unconventional capabilities to advance U.S. national objectives around the world with little or no warning to the adversary or target and with potential effects ranging from subtle to severely damaging."
