UK minister criticized over ‘hyperbolic’ speech on Russia’s cyber capabilities

The speech by Pat McFadden was described as “ridiculous” by Kevin Riehle, a lecturer at Brunel University London and former counterintelligence analyst in the U.S. government, and as “a step backwards” by James Sullivan, the director of the cyber research group at the think tank Royal United Services Institute (RUSI), alongside several other experts in the field. Jamie MacColl, a cyber research fellow at RUSI, said: “The suggestion that Russia ‘can turn the lights off for millions’ is not grounded in reality and likely reflects a misunderstanding of the kind of effects that offensive cyber operations can achieve.” “This kind of language also does Russia’s job for it, given Russian intelligence wants to create panic and weaken societal resilience through cyber operations. Resisting Russian cyber attacks requires psychological as well as cyber resilience, and this rests on clear and calm rhetoric and guidance from the government,” MacColl said. Louise Marie Hurel, also a cyber research fellow at RUSI, said the depiction of “a scenario where Russia could execute a one-click, nationwide shutdown is unhelpful.” “Such exaggerated rhetoric inadvertently bolsters Russia’s image and perceived capabilities while unnecessarily spreading fears of a doomsday scenario,” she said.