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System error: Japan cybersecurity minister admits he has never used a computer
A Japanese minister in charge of cybersecurity has provoked astonishment by admitting he has never used a computer in his professional life, and appearing confused by the concept of a USB drive. Yoshitaka Sakurada, 68, is the deputy chief of the government's cybersecurity strategy office and also the minister in charge of the Olympic and Paralympic Games that Tokyo will host in 2020.
In parliament on Wednesday however, he admitted he doesn't use computers. "Since the age of 25, I have instructed my employees and secretaries, so I don't use computers myself," he said in a response to an opposition question in a lower house session, local media reported.
He also appeared confused by the question when asked about whether USB drives were in use at Japanese nuclear facilities. His comments were met with incredulity by opposition lawmakers. "It's unbelievable that someone who has not touched computers is responsible for cybersecurity policies," said opposition lawmaker Masato Imai.
And his comments provoked a firestorm online. "Doesn't he feel ashamed?" wrote one Twitter user. "Today any company president uses a PC. He doesn't even know what a USB is. Holy cow."
Another joked that perhaps Sakurada was simply engaged in his own kind of cybersecurity. "If a hacker targets this Minister Sakurada, they wouldn't be able to steal any information. Indeed it might be the strongest kind of security!"
Also at NYT, The Register, and Reuters.
(Score: 3, Insightful) by looorg on Thursday November 15 2018, @08:50PM (7 children)
I don't really find it all that odd, after all he is just the minister, the public figure or talking head, or deputy chief on a strategic level. Most ministers, or just politicians in general, don't seem to know anything about their area of responsibility. That is why they have a staff and experts, they bring the knowledge and he remains the "pretty" face that makes decisions. His answer of delegating it to his subordinates for the last 40 something years seems fine to me, after all he comes from a society that is very much into a strict hierarchical system. If he doesn't like computers on a personal level that is fine to, it's a choice to use one. Sure it might collide with our ideas about high technology Japan but that might be more or our problem. I do wonder how he gets on in Japanese society of today without any computers, perhaps his wife and/or children does all the computer work while he spends his time in silent contemplation.
If anything I found it more strange that they dumped him with both being chief of cybersecurity strategy and at the same time also in charge of the 2020 Olympics -- that is one hell of a combination. At least it wasn't the cyber-olympics ...
(Score: 3, Interesting) by NewNic on Thursday November 15 2018, @08:58PM (2 children)
I find it very odd. Not because he is the minister, but because anyone who doesn't use a computer today in their personal life is missing a lot of today's cultural life.
I bet he really does use a computer: it's just that he calls it his cellphone.
lib·er·tar·i·an·ism ˌlibərˈterēənizəm/ noun: Magical thinking that useful idiots mistake for serious political theory
(Score: 2) by looorg on Thursday November 15 2018, @09:09PM
Sure we could turn this into a "what is a computer" question, when he says computer he might be referring to a "PC" or "Mac" or whatnot only. That could very well be the case. He might be just using a smartphone, but if he does it wouldn't surprise me if he only uses it for voice calls. I doubt he is running a mad amount of apps and then claims not to use computers. That would be quite odd. He probably also owns at least one giant flatscreen TV, which is also more or less a computer today. His car, if he owns one, is also more or less a giant computer on wheels. Etc.
That said I wouldn't be surprised if his secretary or assistants really do all that work for him and then if needed hands him the phone if he needs to talk to someone.
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Friday November 16 2018, @01:34AM
(Score: 2) by Nuke on Thursday November 15 2018, @10:03PM (1 child)
Looorg wrote :-
Please tell us you're kidding ... have you seen a picture of this guy?
(Score: 2) by looorg on Thursday November 15 2018, @10:54PM
"Pretty". No I didn't watch the pictures. But beauty being in the eye of the beholder and all of that, he might be like catnip to little old 70+ year old Japanese ladies for all I know.
(Score: 2) by edIII on Thursday November 15 2018, @11:32PM (1 child)
You have a valid point, however there is a difference between a widget company, and something that involves security and risk, which are often intimately intertwined.
I would absolutely expect that the CEO of a security firm have indepth knowledge of the field. Along with the top people in the company.
Cybersecurity is one of those things where you need to tap the field itself for the leader, finding the best suited among them to lead.
Technically, lunchtime is at any moment. It's just a wave function.
(Score: 1, Informative) by Anonymous Coward on Friday November 16 2018, @01:38AM
..and he is not CEO, he is the minister. He is the one you ask for more money and then he talks to the other politicians about getting more money. I'm sure we'd all prefer an experienced politician in that situation instead of a technical person who only know how to play against logical opponents.