CISPA Author Ramps Up The FUD: Claims He Can't Sleep At Night Due To 'Unusual Source' Threatening Us

from the oh-come-on dept

Rep. Mike Rogers, who introduced CISPA, the infamous cybersecurity bill that was absolutely horrible when it came to privacy, is apparently trying to ramp up the FUD to get CISPA back on the legislative calendar, despite the Senate's decision to go in another direction (which eventually stalled out). In a new interview, he talked mysteriously about new threats from "unexpected sources" and even claimed he couldn't sleep at night because of them. But -- shh! -- he can't really talk about specifics:
"We think there might be one last shot here -- maybe I'm just an eternal optimist -- to get this thing sparked back to life."

Driving the interest, he said, has been a series of briefings for key legislators "on what appears to be a new level of threat that would target networks from -- I've got to be careful here -- an unusual source."

Rogers has been giving fellow legislators a "glimpse" of this new danger. "I figured if I can't sleep at night, why should any other member of Congress?" He declined to describe the threat, citing the highly classified nature of the information. "I look really bad in orange -- those orange jumpsuits with the numbers on the back," he said to laughter.
It really was just a few days ago that we wondered if the government was going to start using stories of "new threats" to try to ram through legislation. That's basically been the plan all along. Tell scary ghost stories, none of which have any actual facts behind them, until people feel compelled to pass the bills. What's never mentioned is whether or not any of this is effective or a reasonable response. Also missing: any discussion of what is the actual problem being solved today. Rogers' CISPA bill, for example, focuses on information sharing, but fails to explain why the necessary information sharing is being blocked today, or why the bill can't just target the few issues that block such info sharing.

Of course, at the very same time that he's telling scary ghost stories about monsters in our wires keeping him up at night, he's absolutely livid that no one in the White House came to talk to him about their own plan for a cybersecurity executive order. So, apparently, we're all going to die in the night if we don't let companies and the government spy on us more easily... but the White House's plan to do something about that is "irresponsible." Right.
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Filed Under: cispa, cybersecurity, fud, mike rogers, threats


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  • icon
    Ninja (profile), 5 Oct 2012 @ 7:59am

    Ssshhhh.. Be vewy vewy quiet...

    He gives a clear hint of the threat, Mikey Osama Bin Masnick...

    It's the Iranian textile industry! They plan to overwhelm us by invading our computers and forcing us to see hundreds of pictures of people in unfashionable orange clothing with the intent of driving us insane.

    It is obvious we need CISPA to tackle that threat Mike Mohamed Masnick. Sheesh, stop with the terrorism apology will you?

    link to this | view in chronology ]

  • identicon
    Anonymous Coward, 5 Oct 2012 @ 8:47am

    "Mike Rogers, who introduced CISPA ... talked mysteriously about new threats from "unexpected sources" and even claimed he couldn't sleep at night because of them."

    It must be those evil Reds under his bed making too much racket.

    link to this | view in chronology ]

    • identicon
      MrWilson, 5 Oct 2012 @ 9:32am

      Re:

      Obligatory: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AylFqdxRMwE.

      Terrorist is the new Communist.

      link to this | view in chronology ]

    • identicon
      Dave Xanatos, 5 Oct 2012 @ 11:40am

      [this space intentionally left blank]

      Anyone else find it exceptionally ironic that the same guy who talks "mysteriously about new threats from 'unexpected sources' and even claimed he couldn't sleep at night because of them" also said "maybe I'm just an eternal optimist"?

      link to this | view in chronology ]

      • icon
        Dirkmaster (profile), 5 Oct 2012 @ 12:14pm

        Re: [this space intentionally left blank]

        Yeah, almost like those two talking points had been written by different people.

        Maybe we should start up a new study of Textual Criticism (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Textual_Criticism)

        link to this | view in chronology ]

  • identicon
    Anonymous Coward, 5 Oct 2012 @ 8:47am

    Does he mean the public?

    link to this | view in chronology ]

    • identicon
      Anonymous Coward, 5 Oct 2012 @ 8:53am

      Re:

      No, I believe he is referring to the government.

      link to this | view in chronology ]

      • identicon
        Anonymous Coward, 5 Oct 2012 @ 8:55am

        Re: Re:

        That actually makes sense until you realize that the government is afraid of the government so they want to be able to spy on the government more efficiently and the unfortunate byproduct of that is loss of civil liberty for the general public. Oh well, gotta break a few eggs to bake a cake.

        link to this | view in chronology ]

      • icon
        Hephaestus (profile), 7 Oct 2012 @ 10:06pm

        Re: Re:

        I actually believe he is referring to himself. Its why he cannot sleep at night. ;)

        link to this | view in chronology ]

  • icon
    G Thompson (profile), 5 Oct 2012 @ 8:55am

    Orange jumpsuit sorta thing with numbers? Damn isn't that the same as the HEV suit that Gordan Freeman wears?


    Damn.. Aperture Science and Black Mesa must be real!!!

    Headcrabs and Aliens guys!!! HEADCRABS AND FREAKIN ALIENS!!!!!!

    link to this | view in chronology ]

  • icon
    Alto (profile), 5 Oct 2012 @ 8:57am

    The Republican Trend

    Anyone else notice that there are a lot of things that are being said (and most likely done) to "protect" us, but for some reason or another we can't be filled in on the details?
    Like the "plans" Mitt Romney has, they are so damn comprehensive and "good" they would instantly spawn disbelief.

    link to this | view in chronology ]

  • icon
    Chronno S. Trigger (profile), 5 Oct 2012 @ 8:57am

    An unusual source?

    We have to worry about foreigners, teenagers, and the US Government already, what's left that can possibly be unusual? Computer illiterate people? Aliens? Skynet itself?

    link to this | view in chronology ]

  • identicon
    Lord Binky, 5 Oct 2012 @ 9:00am

    How about,instead of passing laws, you take whatever is in dire threat from evil internet boogeymen and unplug it it from the internet? Sounds like taking the simple actions to protect stuff is better than being scared and hiding under your covers. Unless of course you're just trying to carve out a high profile job position, then the whole never ending battle thing works out better.

    link to this | view in chronology ]

    • icon
      Baldaur Regis (profile), 5 Oct 2012 @ 10:05am

      Re:

      How about,instead of passing laws, you take whatever is in dire threat from evil internet boogeymen and unplug it it from the internet?
      I think you'd have to be in a higher pay grade than a US Senator to propose something so radical, so audacious, so...reasonable.

      Also, this same guy claims the US is losing the cyber-espionage war to China, Russia and the usual suspects, that we're heading towards - his words - a "cyber Pearl Harbor". Now, I'm no US Senator so I'm sure this is just a wacky idea - but how about NOT outsourcing our most advanced technology to be assembled by those wascally Chinese? Sure, they have tiny hands and work cheap, but they're our enemies, right Mr. Rogers?

      link to this | view in chronology ]

  • icon
    Jeremy2020 (profile), 5 Oct 2012 @ 9:19am

    Does this sound like he is warning us of an impending alien invasion to anyone else?

    link to this | view in chronology ]

    • identicon
      Anonymous, 5 Oct 2012 @ 6:09pm

      Re:

      Don't fear. The Men In Black will stop them. I just hope they don't point that flashy thing at...what was I talking about again?

      link to this | view in chronology ]

  • icon
    Jesse (profile), 5 Oct 2012 @ 9:23am

    Nothing scares me more than a government without any sort of oversight.

    link to this | view in chronology ]

    • icon
      gorehound (profile), 5 Oct 2012 @ 2:31pm

      Re:

      Another A-Hole Politician selling out our Freedom and the Rights we are supposed to have ( or at least had at one time) .

      link to this | view in chronology ]

  • identicon
    Anonymous Coward, 5 Oct 2012 @ 9:32am

    and people actually believe this shit? get outta here!

    link to this | view in chronology ]

  • identicon
    Anonymous Coward, 5 Oct 2012 @ 10:15am

    If the threats are classified how are you so certain there are no legitimate underlying facts.

    link to this | view in chronology ]

  • identicon
    Anonymous Coward, 5 Oct 2012 @ 10:29am

    And to think these are the sons of bitches that have no problem with the government holding millions of users legit data hostage.

    It's pretty goddamn ironic that they're calling pirates thieves when they're doing the same fucking thing.

    link to this | view in chronology ]

  • identicon
    Anonymous Coward, 5 Oct 2012 @ 10:30am

    unexpected sources

    So unexpected that he doesn't know what they are yet. But don't panic as total surveillance will find them.

    link to this | view in chronology ]

  • identicon
    kim, 5 Oct 2012 @ 10:40am

    great, another thing to bitch about..

    unplug everything...

    link to this | view in chronology ]

  • identicon
    Anonymous Coward, 5 Oct 2012 @ 10:41am

    What would be the MOST unexpected source?

    The Vatican?

    link to this | view in chronology ]

  • identicon
    inklebonk the smited, 5 Oct 2012 @ 10:47am

    isn't it obvious

    The source of the terrorist systems attack will be the same source as all recent terrorist attacks - US government.

    And he can't say anything about these illegal acts because he'd be arrested for whistle blowing.

    link to this | view in chronology ]

  • icon
    DannyB (profile), 5 Oct 2012 @ 10:55am

    There are medications that can help with that

    Once your doctor gets the dosage right, you will stop seeing these unusual sources threatening us.

    link to this | view in chronology ]

  • icon
    Zos (profile), 5 Oct 2012 @ 11:17am

    obviously, they've found proof that Siri is waking up, and will soon be running iphone users off of bridges and cliffs.
    ...
    ...

    actually, nvm, i don't see a downside there.

    link to this | view in chronology ]

  • identicon
    Anonymous Coward, 5 Oct 2012 @ 11:22am

    Frightening Revelation Forthwith

    "on what appears to be a new level of threat that would target networks from -- I've got to be careful here -- an unusual source."

    I know! This threat .. (ahem) comes from a concentrated mass of coordinated and cunning stunts. .. or was it .. Anyway, if you'll excuse me, I must find a way to infiltrate this coordinated mass, and soon.

    link to this | view in chronology ]

  • icon
    Beta (profile), 5 Oct 2012 @ 11:50am

    a man who tells half-lies...

    Maybe I'm becoming paranoid, but this looks like an umbrella he's offering to others in Congress. The American people have shown themselves to be amazingly susceptible to the We-Can't-Show-You-The-Evidence-Cause-It's-Classified argument over the last few years. If Rep. Rogers is taken seriously, he can push this legislation without fear of public outrage, and if he can be seen to be taken seriously then he can offer that immunity to others who may want to join him.

    So he feeds meaningless statements to the public, in order to get an irrational public reaction, which he can take into back rooms to barter with, and none of it really has anything to do with the legislation he's pushing, which he doesn't actually care about, and which will cost the public dearly long after he retires.

    Am I developing a mental illness, or insight into national politics?

    link to this | view in chronology ]

    • icon
      DannyB (profile), 5 Oct 2012 @ 12:25pm

      Re: a man who tells half-lies...

      Saying he tells half lies is defamation, libel and slander. You should say half truths instead. That makes what he's telling okay.

      link to this | view in chronology ]

  • identicon
    Anonymous Coward, 5 Oct 2012 @ 12:23pm

    Unusual Source

    I vote for Elvis impersonating aliens.

    link to this | view in chronology ]

  • identicon
    Anonymous Coward, 5 Oct 2012 @ 1:48pm

    I think he should be more afraid of the guys in white coats coming for him.

    link to this | view in chronology ]

  • identicon
    Anonymous Coward, 5 Oct 2012 @ 3:20pm

    Let's make a deal

    You show us a real threat, and we'll show you real concern.

    link to this | view in chronology ]

  • identicon
    Anonymous Coward, 5 Oct 2012 @ 9:09pm

    Botnets

    Rogers has just discovered botnets. He has been talking to his mates in the security services, who have also just discovered botnets. They are scared witless by all these crooks out there running botnets, some of them government sponsored, some of them organized crime. Check the log on your broadband router, if you are not sure. As anybody who bothers keeping up with the computer security scene knows, botnets have been around for years and years. They are a problem for the careless and stupid, but not much for anybody else.

    His security mates do not want him to talk about botnets because they have made pathetically poor progress in dealing with them. There are plenty of things that could be done about botnets, but governments worldwide have not done them. They do not want anybody asking any awkward questions about the lack of runs on the board.

    link to this | view in chronology ]

  • icon
    That Anonymous Coward (profile), 5 Oct 2012 @ 11:20pm

    He claims he looks bad in orange, but he is a member of Congress... that seems like a bad place for someone worried about breaking laws.

    link to this | view in chronology ]

  • identicon
    Dave, 6 Oct 2012 @ 3:27am

    Total twaddle

    A little scaremongering never did anyone any harm. That must be his theory. From a UK viewpoint, this looks yet another case of a politician going his own sweet way and representing Big Industry - NOT the people who actually put him into office. Why does the American public stand for these buffoons? Vote with your feet.

    link to this | view in chronology ]

  • icon
    Anonymoose Custard (profile), 6 Oct 2012 @ 11:06am

    We really need to do something about these terrorists.

    Spreading needless fear and discord within Congress should be a crime.

    We shouldn't tolerate terrorists like Mr. Mike Rogers. Not within this land!

    link to this | view in chronology ]

  • identicon
    Anonymous Coward, 8 Oct 2012 @ 10:50am

    It's disgusting that these politicians can run around spreading FUD without citing any evidence since it's classified, while those who actually do the work and know the truth can't speak up since they can end up like Bradley Manning.

    Hint: On the government operations side it's all about money, and on the political side it's all about staying in power.

    link to this | view in chronology ]

  • identicon
    Florian, 9 Oct 2012 @ 8:36am

    I couldn't sleep either...

    if all that MAFIAA bribe money stopped flowing into my pockets.

    link to this | view in chronology ]

  • identicon
    Pounds Ghost, 9 Oct 2012 @ 9:20am

    USG is the enemy

    The only threat Americans face is from "our" Federal Government and its Zionist paymasters. Americans better wake up; we're all about to find out what it is like to be Palestinians because we're all about to be living under the totalitarian boot of total Jewish supremacy and domination. RIP USA. Israel, Israel Uber Alles.

    link to this | view in chronology ]

  • identicon
    robertsgt40, 9 Oct 2012 @ 9:45am

    Maybe the reason Rogers can't sleep at night because of guilt. Nah, that can't be it. He's a congressman

    link to this | view in chronology ]

  • identicon
    LuvULongTime, 9 Oct 2012 @ 10:10am

    Er, among our Chief Weapons are ... Bad legislation, Fear, ruthless inefficiency and a near fanatical devotion to the recording industry.

    link to this | view in chronology ]

  • identicon
    Angry Voter, 9 Oct 2012 @ 3:54pm

    Pass it or else?

    So pass it or else?

    That sounds like a Terrorist Threat.

    Maybe he should subject to extraordinary rendition and coercive interrogation himself?

    I'm not afraid of goat herders or 3rd world dictators. The only reason they're dangerous at all is because crypto-fascist elements in our own government trained and armed them.

    Operation Northwoods anyone?

    link to this | view in chronology ]

  • identicon
    MHab, 9 Oct 2012 @ 4:34pm

    Can't Sleep

    If he's having trouble sleeping, how come he doesnt just turn on his night light? :O

    link to this | view in chronology ]

  • identicon
    BenFromIceland, 10 Oct 2012 @ 3:18am

    They can not win

    Sharing is caring

    link to this | view in chronology ]


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