Director of the NSA Discusses Future of International Cyber Security

Admiral Michael S. Rogers, director of the National Security Agency, discussed cyber security and political controversy surrounding the NSA at the John F. Kennedy, Jr. Forum on Wednesday evening.

Admiral Michael S. Rogers, director of the National Security Agency, spoke with Belfer Center Director Graham T. Allison ’62 at the John F. Kennedy, Jr. Forum on Wednesday evening. By Sidni M. Frederick

Rogers was introduced by Graham T. Allison, director of the Belfer Center and Kennedy School professor, who brought up domestic concerns about the NSA. The Belfer Center hosted the event.

“Some Americans think that the advance of cyber capability and surveillance begins to look more and more like 1984,” Allison said.

Rogers responded that the NSA operates within the bounds of the law and that most of the public’s concern comes from power granted to the NSA under the law.

“We don’t set the law; we don’t write the law. We never deviate from that legal framework. We don’t violate the law, the power, the authority that has been granted to us,” he said. “Now are we comfortable with that legal framework? We have blurred these two issues.”

During the subsequent question-and-answer session, questions centered around the evolution of the intelligence community and cyber technology in the 21st century.

“We are in a place now where the current state of technology has outstripped our legal frameworks. How do we realign this?” Rogers said. “We need a broader societal discussion about this: what are we comfortable with? What does privacy mean in the digital age?”

With regard to international issues, Rogers acknowledged recent high-profile hacks, such as the Sony hack in 2014—which included communications between a Harvard Overseer and top University officials—and the 2015 hack of the Office of Personnel Management.

“We must publicly acknowledge the activity. We must publicly attribute the activity,” he said. “We must take concrete action to make sure that, in [the Sony] case the North Koreans, understand that these actions are not acceptable.”

Rogers acknowledge that when someone or a foreign nation engages in cyber warfare, the automatic response is to do the same thing.

“My argument is we should think more broadly, more strategically, and harness the broad capabilities and advantages that we draw as a nation. Just don’t default to cyber,” he said.

Attendees said they were eager to hear the perspective of the director of the NSA.

“I thought he answered my question about whistleblowing well, but I wish he could give more solutions to how whistleblowers can handle issues internally and not just have to confide in the media,” Extension School student Andrew Kingsbury said.

Matte Hartog, a research fellow at the Kennedy School, echoed Kingsbury.

“Cybersecurity is one of the biggest challenges for the future,” Hartog said. “It’s a great opportunity for the students and people here. It’s great outreach for the government, and I hear [Rogers] is going around to other universities as well.”