( CNN ) -- It 's been a busy few days in the world of cybercrime . Late last week , we learned that cooperation between the Federal Bureau of Investigation and overseas police agencies led to the dissection of the amorphous network behind Blackshades -- the tool that allows hackers to remotely access an unwitting user 's computer to steal sensitive files , log passwords , and capture webcam images . Law enforcement authorities from the U.S. to Germany to the Netherlands appeared on the doorsteps of suspected hackers with links to the malicious software , eventually arresting 90 people and gathering hoards of evidence along the way . Then , on Monday , U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder released an indictment for five Chinese nationals on charges of corporate cybertheft . In a statement , FBI Director James B. Comey accused the Chinese government of committing `` cyber espionage to obtain economic advantage for its state-owned industries . '' The 31-count cybertheft indictment is the first of its kind to level penalties on a state actor -- in this case five members of the People 's Liberation Army -- for allegedly pilfering intellectual property from six U.S. companies . Predictably , China 's Foreign Ministry was quick to rebuke the charges as `` fabricated '' and a violation `` of basic norms of international relations . '' As if it had been pre-written , the scripted statement then touted China 's record as a `` staunch defender of cybersecurity . '' Practically speaking , the arrest of 90 semi-amateur hackers is hardly a decisive blow to global cybercrime and the Justice Department 's indictment is little more than a legal show of force . After all , the Blackshades network pales in comparison to other high-dealing cybercrime rings and China has already dismissed the allegations as `` fictitious and absurd , '' so do n't expect extradition proceedings anytime soon . But the Blackshades arrests and the DOJ allegations against China , although modest , are hardly trivial . The indictment marks the most flagrant expression of the United States ' growing intolerance for corporate cybertheft to date . It also communicates to China and the rest of the world the degree to which such behavior directly threatens America 's interests , perhaps even in a manner commensurate with more conventional threats like terrorism and WMD proliferation . More than signaling intolerance for cybercrime , both cases have revealed domestic and foreign law enforcement 's steady maturation in this space . The international Blackshades raid , which spanned 19 countries , required robust information sharing channels and cross-border operational coordination . On the surface , such partnerships seem routine given that the U.S. regularly partners with foreign law enforcement on drug , terrorism , and financial crimes . But unlike other criminal disciplines , there are no universally-recognized charters governing international norms for cybercrime , and most countries ' justice systems are at drastically different stages of development in this nascent legal field . The Feds and their international counterparts deserve a solid pat on the back for this one , but the progress will quickly retreat if the events of the past week do n't trigger a more enduring dialogue on international norms for cybercrime . Now more than ever , the line in the sand is clear . On one side is traditional espionage , a practice governed by hundreds of years of international norms that has recently spilled over from sea , air and land into cyberspace . It is a basic function of intelligence . On the other side , is corporate cybertheft , a new phenomenon in which the anonymity of cyberspace affords the thief an enormous advantage over the victim -- especially when the thief is a government and the victim is a business . Quite simply , corporate cybertheft crosses the line because , in today 's ultra-competitive geopolitical landscape , it threatens the delicate balance of power between states . Yes , states spy in cyberspace to protect themselves from threats . But the goal of corporate cybertheft is to fundamentally revise the balance of power -- and self-respecting nations simply ca n't tolerate such behavior . In unprecedented fashion , the faces of five officers from the previously disclosed 61398 Unit of the Chinese People 's Liberation Army now appear on a `` Wanted by the FBI '' poster , a striking suggestion that perhaps prosecuting cybercrime should n't differ all that much from prosecuting other crimes . Not too long ago , the overt portrayal of individuals otherwise known only by their virtual aliases would have been met by fierce opposition from those fearing diplomatic retribution . Despite China 's rhetoric and the summoning of the American Ambassador to China Max Baucus Monday night , the U.S. need not fear retribution . But now that we 've crossed the Rubicon with this indictment , it 's apparent that dealing with cybercrime is more than just a `` name and shame '' game . If , instead , the five Chinese officers marched into Westinghouse 's headquarters , pulled out a gun and stole next year 's product development plans , nobody would debate whether or not they crossed the line . Cyberspace does n't afford criminals any more latitude than the physical world , but it does increase the burden of proof on the accusing party -- so hopefully Attorney General Eric Holder did his homework . Join us on Facebook.com/CNNOpinion .
Dave Weinstein says the recent cyber-arrests and Chinese indictments signal a new era . Federal law enforcement agencies and governments have redefined what crosses the line . The Blackshades raid spanned 19 countries and required robust global information sharing .