The Communications Security Establishment (CSE), Canada's electronic spy agency, revealed for the first time that it has been pursuing foreign hackers in order to combat the country's rising levels of cybercrime.

On his account, CSE Spokesperson Evan Koronewski told Canada's Global News that “although we cannot comment on our use of foreign cyber operations (active and defensive cyber operations) or provide operational statistics, we can confirm we have the tools we need to impose a cost on the people behind these kinds of incidents." 

The new mandate "gives CSE the legal authority to conduct cyber operations to disrupt foreign-based threats to Canada, including cybercriminals," according to the agency.

Furthermore, the Spokesperson affirmed that they will collaborate with Canadian law enforcement to combat cybercrime.