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posted by chromas on Tuesday August 14 2018, @03:33AM   Printer-friendly
from the ~blame dept.

Ajit Pai admits FCC lied about "DDoS," blames it on Obama administration

Federal Communications Commission Chairman Ajit Pai acknowledged Monday that the FCC lied about its public comment system being taken down by a DDoS attack during the net neutrality repeal proceeding.

Pai blamed the spreading of false information on employees hired by the Obama administration and said that he isn't to blame because he "inherited... a culture" from "the prior Administration" that led to the spreading of false information. Pai wrote:

I am deeply disappointed that the FCC's former Chief Information Officer [David Bray], who was hired by the prior Administration and is no longer with the Commission, provided inaccurate information about this incident to me, my office, Congress, and the American people. This is completely unacceptable. I'm also disappointed that some working under the former CIO apparently either disagreed with the information that he was presenting or had questions about it, yet didn't feel comfortable communicating their concerns to me or my office."

Pai's admission came in a statement yesterday. "It has become clear that in addition to a flawed comment system, we inherited from the prior Administration a culture in which many members of the Commission's career IT staff were hesitant to express disagreement with the Commission's former CIO in front of FCC management," he also said.

Inspector General report.

Also at The Verge:

The toughest condemnation of Pai's actions came from Fight for the Future, a net neutrality advocacy organization, which called for Pai to step down. "Ajit Pai should resign. These new revelations from the FCC's internal investigation are a smoking gun," the group said in a statement. "They clearly show that the FCC chairman knew months ago that there had never been a cyber attack on the FCC's comment system, but did nothing, allowing the false narrative to spread in a cynical attempt to downplay the overwhelming opposition to his attack on net neutrality."

Previously: John Oliver Leads Net Neutrality Defenders to Crash FCC Website. Again.
Senator Blasts FCC for Refusing to Provide DDoS Analysis
FCC Says its Specific Plan to Stop DDoS Attacks Must Remain Secret


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  • (Score: 0, Funny) by Captival on Tuesday August 14 2018, @03:53AM (25 children)

    by Captival (6866) on Tuesday August 14 2018, @03:53AM (#721228)

    Obviously Pai's story couldn't possibly be true, because no Obama administration employee has ever done anything wrong. Ever! In all 8 years! Obama said so himself! A scandal-free administration! And since doubting him is automatically racist, I'm certainly not going to try it.

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  • (Score: 3, Funny) by Anonymous Coward on Tuesday August 14 2018, @04:36AM

    by Anonymous Coward on Tuesday August 14 2018, @04:36AM (#721240)

    On one hand I understand your frustration over the Saint Obama meme, on the other hand you're a blind fool.

  • (Score: 5, Insightful) by Fluffeh on Tuesday August 14 2018, @04:38AM (19 children)

    by Fluffeh (954) Subscriber Badge on Tuesday August 14 2018, @04:38AM (#721241) Journal

    Although you're clearly trolling, as an outsider to US politics, it really does seem that compared to the current administration, the last one is an eight year blank period where there were no outrages, no morning sound-bytes of new and creative ways to bring embarrassment and shame to one of the great countries in the world.

    It's like the noisy, smelly, dumb kid is presenting a homework assignment in front of the class, right after the nerdy smart kid at school did his presentation.

    • (Score: 1, Insightful) by Anonymous Coward on Tuesday August 14 2018, @05:10AM (17 children)

      by Anonymous Coward on Tuesday August 14 2018, @05:10AM (#721246)

      So, the NSA's mass surveillance, unconstitutional drone assassinations, and 7+ military interventions going on when Obama was in power just never happened? All of which Trump is now doing, yes, but let's not try to rehabilitate the old evils just because the new evil is worse.

      • (Score: 5, Insightful) by Anonymous Coward on Tuesday August 14 2018, @05:41AM (13 children)

        by Anonymous Coward on Tuesday August 14 2018, @05:41AM (#721251)

        *herp* *derp* *whatabout* *durr* *hurr*

        I'd tell you to shove your whataboutism up your ass but I doubt it'll fit with your head in there.

        • (Score: 0, Troll) by Anonymous Coward on Tuesday August 14 2018, @06:08AM (12 children)

          by Anonymous Coward on Tuesday August 14 2018, @06:08AM (#721254)

          He directly mentioned the previous administration and compared it to the current one, so it's not whataboutism at all. Obama was awful, and this fact should not be overlooked just because Trump is worse.

          • (Score: 5, Informative) by janrinok on Tuesday August 14 2018, @07:54AM (11 children)

            by janrinok (52) Subscriber Badge on Tuesday August 14 2018, @07:54AM (#721269) Journal

            This really is growing tiresome.

            Many topics seem to collapse into another session of political name calling. Pai could have fired subordinates that he didn't think were doing the job - so it is no good blaming his predecessor. He collects the big bucks - so he is currently responsible! But Pai has knowingly lied about this up until the last few weeks and nobody seems to think that it is significant, and he simply stays in post?

            Is there any chance that we can forget the partisan politics and actually discuss the story?

            • (Score: 5, Insightful) by Runaway1956 on Tuesday August 14 2018, @10:13AM (8 children)

              by Runaway1956 (2926) Subscriber Badge on Tuesday August 14 2018, @10:13AM (#721308) Journal

              Trump says he's loyal, so his job is secure. So long as he stays loyal to Trump, he can be video's eating dead babies, and throwing kittens out the window for skeet shooting targets - and he's fine.

              A lot of people hate a lot of things about Trump, but that "loyalty" thing is one of the worst, in my view.

              • (Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Tuesday August 14 2018, @02:51PM

                by Anonymous Coward on Tuesday August 14 2018, @02:51PM (#721385)

                Unless he nevertheless manages to bring shame on Trump. Trump's loyalty flows in exactly one direction, to him. He'll throw anyone under the bus who he feels embarasses him personally.

              • (Score: 4, Interesting) by Anonymous Coward on Tuesday August 14 2018, @03:06PM (2 children)

                by Anonymous Coward on Tuesday August 14 2018, @03:06PM (#721392)
                • (Score: 1) by nitehawk214 on Tuesday August 14 2018, @05:53PM (1 child)

                  by nitehawk214 (1304) on Tuesday August 14 2018, @05:53PM (#721448)

                  What the fuck? Did we not fight a war over this kind of bullshit?

                  --
                  "Don't you ever miss the days when you used to be nostalgic?" -Loiosh
                  • (Score: 2) by Azuma Hazuki on Tuesday August 14 2018, @11:14PM

                    by Azuma Hazuki (5086) on Tuesday August 14 2018, @11:14PM (#721593) Journal

                    Remember, "it's just a goddamn piece of paper." I'm told Dubya didn't actually say that, but the poor thing's covered in chimpanzee shit stains, and actions speak louder than words...

                    --
                    I am "that girl" your mother warned you about...
              • (Score: 2) by realDonaldTrump on Thursday August 16 2018, @12:29AM (3 children)

                by realDonaldTrump (6614) on Thursday August 16 2018, @12:29AM (#721972) Homepage Journal

                Ajit has done some great things. He did the repeal of net neutrality, so important to closing up that internet. And to making our internet companies profitable. He did the set-up for the Sinclair-Tribune merge. The repeal of the main studio Rule and everything else. But, he killed the deal. They came to him, the deal was ready, he killed it. He didn't tell them "no" but he sent them to the judge. Which usually means, that deal is dead. Or you spend YEARS in court and the deal goes through in a completely new world. Like making the deal in horse and buggy days. And the judge lets it go through in space rocket days. He says, "OK, you can buy the buggy whip factory." If he lets it go through -- like I said, a lot of times the judge says "no." I talked to Ajit. Before I appointed him. And, not a word about this. He should have told me he would kill the deal. And, I wouldn't have hired him. Because that deal is very dear to my heart -- and I have A LOT of heart. It would have created the greatest Conservative voice for our Country. For our people. Bigger than Fox, bigger than OANN. Very positive news. So beautiful, Ajit killed it. That's not loyalty!!!

                • (Score: 2) by Runaway1956 on Thursday August 16 2018, @12:40AM (2 children)

                  by Runaway1956 (2926) Subscriber Badge on Thursday August 16 2018, @12:40AM (#721975) Journal

                  making our internet companies profitable

                  You just don't get it. It isn't about profit. It's about the advancement of mankind. You can't see that, can you? When we were kids, the only way to communicate with Grandma, 500 miles away, was by letter, by very expensive long distance telephone, or to drive the 500 miles to Grandma's house. Today, talking to Grandma is as simple as flipping a couple switches, and you can talk all day and into the night - with video.

                  Now, Doctor Dumpster Trumpster - when are you going to get Verizon busy with the fiber-optic build out? I'd like to call my grandma, and they still don't have internet in Heaven!

                  • (Score: 2) by realDonaldTrump on Thursday August 16 2018, @01:28AM (1 child)

                    by realDonaldTrump (6614) on Thursday August 16 2018, @01:28AM (#721996) Homepage Journal

                    Our internet companies are dieing. Do you remember America Online? Possibly you're too young to remember. But that used to be one of the biggest ones. Now it's TINY. Our internet companies must make a profit -- or they will DIE. And net neutrality was going to take away their flexibility.

                    Our cable TV companies -- Comcast and so many others -- are in big trouble too. So many folks canceling their Cable. And changing to TV over internet. Maybe you can remember video stores -- Blockbuster, Hollywood Video and so many little ones. They died because people stopped going. And the same is happening to our Cable TV. But a lot of our Cable companies don't just sell TV. They sell internet. With Net Neutrality repealed, they can charge a little more for TV over internet. And a little less for Cable TV. So they can stay profitable.

                    If our internet companies go out of business, no more video chats with sexy ladies. It's back to FAX!!!

                    • (Score: 2) by Runaway1956 on Thursday August 16 2018, @02:03AM

                      by Runaway1956 (2926) Subscriber Badge on Thursday August 16 2018, @02:03AM (#722005) Journal

                      Our internet companies are dieing.

                      That is complete and utter bullshit. The Telcos are carting money to the bank by the truckload. AOL needed to die, they had a shit business model. FFS, they were selling subscriptions to old people who didn't own a computer, and had no idea WTF the internet was. AOL were fucking parasites. If AOL disappears from human history tomorrow, that is exactly what they deserve. DIE PARASITES - starting with your little buddy Ajit Pai.

                      Cable companies, pretty much ditto. The stupid bastards simply don't understand that their offerings are overpriced by about - ohhhh - let me try to be fair - at least 50%, and possibly as much as 150%. Their infrastructure has been in place for decades, it's paid for. They don't have any really big expenses. They are coasting along on decades old technology, and damned near everything they rake in is PROFIT today. Is it actually WORTH a dollar a day to have their cheapest offerings in my home? Not only "NO!" but "FUCK NO!" Is it worth 2 to 10 dollars a day for their "premium" offerings? Uhhhhh - their very best package might be worth a buck-fifty. (and that is assuming a person has an interest in watching the boob tube)

                      All of the cable companies can go belly up, their assets sold off, and smaller companies with more realistic expectations can take over where they left off.

                      Just cut the god-damned cable!

                      Die, bitches, DIE!

            • (Score: 2) by JoeMerchant on Tuesday August 14 2018, @01:10PM

              by JoeMerchant (3937) on Tuesday August 14 2018, @01:10PM (#721345)

              Pai could have fired subordinates that he didn't think were doing the job

              But, isn't it clear? Under the current administration the phrase "YOU'RE FIRED!!!" has copyright held by the CinC.

              --
              🌻🌻 [google.com]
            • (Score: 1, Insightful) by Anonymous Coward on Tuesday August 14 2018, @10:05PM

              by Anonymous Coward on Tuesday August 14 2018, @10:05PM (#721559)

              This really is growing tiresome.

              It is indeed tiresome. The person above said that Obama seemed free of outrages compared to Trump, but replying to this by mentioning several serious scandals and Constitutional violations is seen as "whataboutism," even though that makes no sense because the other person mentioned Obama first. In other words, the person who threw out that term has no idea what it actually means.

              I guess responding to what other people actually say isn't a good idea.

      • (Score: 2, Disagree) by http on Tuesday August 14 2018, @08:06AM

        by http (1920) on Tuesday August 14 2018, @08:06AM (#721276)

        s/Obama/Bush/ ; # no change

        --
        I browse at -1 when I have mod points. It's unsettling.
      • (Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Tuesday August 14 2018, @05:13PM (1 child)

        by Anonymous Coward on Tuesday August 14 2018, @05:13PM (#721427)

        Yes, but he did those things while sounding really smart!

        And sounding really smart is all that matters!

        • (Score: 2) by Runaway1956 on Thursday August 16 2018, @12:44AM

          by Runaway1956 (2926) Subscriber Badge on Thursday August 16 2018, @12:44AM (#721976) Journal

          Uh, uhhh, uhhh! I don't know, maybe the brown chimp sounded a little smarter than the white chimp who preceeded him, if you happen to speak brown chimp dialect. Uh, uhhh, uhhhhhhh!

    • (Score: 2) by arslan on Wednesday August 15 2018, @03:27AM

      by arslan (3462) on Wednesday August 15 2018, @03:27AM (#721665)

      Umm... so you use popularity contest as a measure of an administration's success? A bit juvenile don't you think? Why don't you use things like body count, violations of human rights, economic & social impact to its citizens, etc.?

      That dumb kid might just surprise you if you hold an open unprejudiced mind.

  • (Score: 1, Insightful) by realDonaldTrump on Tuesday August 14 2018, @06:50AM (1 child)

    by realDonaldTrump (6614) on Tuesday August 14 2018, @06:50AM (#721259) Homepage Journal

    You people are everywhere in our government. But not for long. Every day, we're working very hard to find you. And fire you. Shadey James Comey -- fired. Sally Yates -- such a cunt -- fired. FBI Lover Boy Peter Strzok -- fired. We're "taking out" Obama's people. And putting in MY people. People with INTEGRITY. ACCOUNTABILITY. And most of all, LOYALTY. Look out!!!

    • (Score: 1, Funny) by Anonymous Coward on Tuesday August 14 2018, @02:45PM

      by Anonymous Coward on Tuesday August 14 2018, @02:45PM (#721381)

      Go practice your perp walk.

  • (Score: 5, Insightful) by Thexalon on Tuesday August 14 2018, @11:14AM (1 child)

    by Thexalon (636) on Tuesday August 14 2018, @11:14AM (#721324)

    So here's the main difference I'm noticing between the Trump and Obama administrations: Obama's people at least gave lip service to concepts like "serving the public trust", and were not seeking to loot the public treasury while in office. Sure, in some cases they were hoping to land cushy gigs on K Street, Wall Street, or think tanks when they were done, but what they weren't doing were moves like deregulating companies in which they or their family members just happened to have significant monetary stakes.

    And that's because a key value of Donald Trump is "He who is richer is better, regardless of how he got there." And he hires people that agree with that value. And surprise surprise, that means that he's hiring people whose government salary isn't enough income to keep them happy, and are constantly looking for kickbacks and other ways to personally profit from their government decisions. Again, nothing that new in government, but Trump and his people are not even seriously trying to hide it.

    And yes, this sort of thing starts at the top. For instance, about a year ago, when I was closely reading all the regulatory changes that came through on a weekly basis, I noticed cutbacks on a bunch of tariffs coming straight from the president's office that were a bit disguised as to what the cuts actually were. So I looked up all the references and such, and it just so happened that a bunch of the items that had substantial cuts were precisely the materials and countries used in Ivanka Trump's handbag business. You'd have a very hard time convincing me that that was a coincidence.

    --
    The only thing that stops a bad guy with a compiler is a good guy with a compiler.