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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: 5, Insightful) by requerdanos on Thursday November 15 2018, @09:23PM (4 children)
I was going to respond to the idiot(s) who are saying some variation of "having no clue what he is in charge of is not important for a management position"--(really? incompetence is a plus?)--but there are just too many of them.
So... if you said, above, or if you plan to say, somewhere, below, that not being able to tell your own posterior from a cavitated opening in the ground is either unimportant or a benefit to being in charge of cybersecurity, I enthusiastically encourage everyone to take note of same and pay you no attention at all.
The level of cluelessness that this individual displays means that he can't even identify a cybersecurity checklist when presented with a variety of real and fake ideas, much less actually competently oversee something that he isn't even aware of.
Please consider very carefully whether someone who does not even know what a USB drive is, will be able to make sure that nuclear plant security isn't breached by their use, to take just one example (that was helpfully already provided for you in TFA). Now extrapolate that vast sucking vacuum of knowledge to every actual and possible vulnerability that needs to be actively prevented in order to keep up with cybersecurity best practices.
Seriously, you think that being to tell the difference between a computer and a toaster oven would be unimportant (or, a *liability*) for this? That's the dumbest thing I've ever heard (dead even tie).
There are already too many people who have to put up with incompetent people making the decisions that affect security and now you're making it worse for them by encouraging that sort of thing. Knock it off. If you can't repent, at least remain silent.
(Score: 1, Insightful) by Anonymous Coward on Thursday November 15 2018, @09:59PM (3 children)
I would rather a politician openly knew nothing and relied on domain experts to provide them the reports they need to make informed decisions, than if they considered themselves knowledgeable and acted on their "knowledge" in the face of mounting evidence to the contrary.
The world has far too many politicians of the latter ilk already.
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Thursday November 15 2018, @10:56PM (1 child)
The former will become the latter the second the wrong guy has this fuckface's ear. Besides with Japan's culture subordinates will be even less likely to correct him or tell him no.
(Score: 3, Insightful) by deimtee on Thursday November 15 2018, @11:39PM
This is actually a point in his favor. No-one in that position is ever going to be the best in the world at everything related to olympics and cybersecurity, so it is a big plus having someone who won't put forward half-arsed solutions that his subordinates won't criticize.
He gets to just ask 'what do we do here' - reply from expert 'workable solution'
instead of ' I think brainless crap' - reply 'Oh yes sir, we will do that at once'
If you cough while drinking cheap red wine it really cleans out your sinuses.
(Score: 2) by SomeGuy on Thursday November 15 2018, @11:13PM
The question could just as easily have been about some obscure complex nuclearflubamajigomatic that only five people in the world understand. If this guy really has the skills he needs to be in this position, then he would be able to put you in touch with one of those five people.
Besides why are they even asking about USB drives? Haven't they moved their data to teh cloud? :P