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

Fri, Oct 5th 2012 8:41am — Mike Masnick

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

62 Comments

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Reader Comments

The First Word

“

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

—Jesse

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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?
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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.
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Anonymous Coward, 5 Oct 2012 @ 8:47am

Does he mean the public?
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Anonymous Coward, 5 Oct 2012 @ 8:53am

Re:
No, I believe he is referring to the government.
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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!!!!!!
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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.
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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.
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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?
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Chronno S. Trigger (profile), 5 Oct 2012 @ 8:59am

Re:
Is that why Half Life 3 is taking so long? They're waiting for it to play out in reality before they can write it down.
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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.
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Jeremy2020 (profile), 5 Oct 2012 @ 9:19am

Does this sound like he is warning us of an impending alien invasion to anyone else?
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Anonymous Coward, 5 Oct 2012 @ 9:22am

Re: The Republican Trend
The Trend of Both Partys - FTFY
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Jesse (profile), 5 Oct 2012 @ 9:23am

Nothing scares me more than a government without any sort of oversight.
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Anonymous Coward, 5 Oct 2012 @ 9:32am

and people actually believe this shit? get outta here!
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MrWilson, 5 Oct 2012 @ 9:32am

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

Terrorist is the new Communist.
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Lord Binky, 5 Oct 2012 @ 9:35am

Re: An unusual source?
Plants. They're always try to rise up against us...
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Mike42 (profile), 5 Oct 2012 @ 10:02am

Re: An unusual source?
The Animal Conspiracy. It's real. Google it.

Tim Bedore wouldn't lie.
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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?
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Mike Masnick (profile), 5 Oct 2012 @ 10:08am

Re: Re:
Now, I'm no US Senator

Neither is Rep. Rogers.
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Baldaur Regis (profile), 5 Oct 2012 @ 10:11am

Re: An unusual source?
Rocks. Rocks with their beady little eyes always staring at me. And goats. Shifty fuckers, you just KNOW they're thinking up ways to cyber-stab us.
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Anonymous Coward, 5 Oct 2012 @ 10:15am

If the threats are classified how are you so certain there are no legitimate underlying facts.
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Baldaur Regis (profile), 5 Oct 2012 @ 10:15am

Re: Re: Re:
D'oh! Both reading AND comprehension fail. I'll just show myself to the corner stool...
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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.
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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.
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kim, 5 Oct 2012 @ 10:40am

great, another thing to bitch about..
unplug everything...
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Anonymous Coward, 5 Oct 2012 @ 10:41am

What would be the MOST unexpected source?
The Vatican?
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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.
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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.
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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.
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Anonymous Coward, 5 Oct 2012 @ 11:19am

Re: An unusual source?
Mrs Ivy Posset, aged 83, of 26 Kingston Road, Netherton, UK.
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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.
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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"?
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Chuck Norris' Enemy (deceased) (profile), 5 Oct 2012 @ 11:44am

Re: The Republican Trend
"Hope and Change"
How was that for a detailed plan?
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VMax, 5 Oct 2012 @ 11:49am

Re: Re: An unusual source?
Mrs. Evadne Cake http://wiki.lspace.org/wiki/Evadne_Cake
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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?
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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)
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Dirkmaster (profile), 5 Oct 2012 @ 12:19pm

Re: Re: An unusual source?
Naw, they're on our side against the Zombies. I've seen it on my TV.
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Anonymous Coward, 5 Oct 2012 @ 12:20pm

Re: Re:
Oh shi

Does that mean Half Life 1 and 2 are actually historically accurate simulations?
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Anonymous Coward, 5 Oct 2012 @ 12:23pm

Unusual Source
I vote for Elvis impersonating aliens.
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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.
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Anonymous Coward, 5 Oct 2012 @ 1:48pm

I think he should be more afraid of the guys in white coats coming for him.
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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) .
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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.
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Glen, 5 Oct 2012 @ 3:49pm

Re: Re: Re:
That is why I carry a crowbar with me at all times.
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Anonymous Coward, 5 Oct 2012 @ 6:03pm

Re: Re: Re: An unusual source?
Hey, I like the Zombies. Sure, Colin may not be the vocalist he once was, but he and Rod still rock.
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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?
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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.
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G Thompson (profile), 5 Oct 2012 @ 10:48pm

Re: Re: Re:
GLaDOS is watching you!
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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.
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That Anonymous Coward (profile), 6 Oct 2012 @ 3:15am

Re:
and this just goes here...

https://s3.amazonaws.com/data.tumblr.com/tumblr_lp5ko61ttg1qlo1lto1_500.jpg
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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.
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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!
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Hephaestus (profile), 7 Oct 2012 @ 10:06pm

Re: Re:
I actually believe he is referring to himself. Its why he cannot sleep at night. ;)
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Hephaestus (profile), 7 Oct 2012 @ 10:08pm

Re: Re: Re: Re:
That's a Lie. Just like the Cake ...
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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.
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Florian, 9 Oct 2012 @ 8:36am

I couldn't sleep either...
if all that MAFIAA bribe money stopped flowing into my pockets.
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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.
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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
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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.
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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?
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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
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BenFromIceland, 10 Oct 2012 @ 3:18am

They can not win
Sharing is caring
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