Transcript of a Fox Business segment (panel including Matt Britton, Michael Roark, Keith McCullough) discussing the Sony Pictures hack and the decision to pull The Interview. Speakers debate data security, media censorship, corporate risk management, potential North Korean involvement, and broader national security and industry implications, including anticipated impacts on cybersecurity practices and content distribution in 2015.
Our why? CEO Matt Britton, Michael Roark and Keith McCullough still with me on this. Matt, what's your observation on this story?
Well, I mean, I think it's fascinating. It brings up a ton of issues. The issue of data security, obviously, huge within major corporations. The issue of censorship in America and with the media. And I think you bring up a great point. I think Sony obviously is a commercial enterprise. They didn't want to be dragged into this mess. And ultimately, you know, they have enough to worry about in a changing industry. So for them to bow out, I think makes sense. I understand where Clooney is coming from in a lot of Hollywood saying that it's a slippery slope. And once you get threats for censorship and you pull content, where does that actually stop and end? And I think from the administrative standpoint in terms of the government, I think they need to be worried about it because it does involve North Korea. But I'm not so sure that they were consulted before Sony made a decision to pull the title.
You're not sure that they were consulted? I just find it extraordinary that we haven't heard from the administration on this.
Why would you. It's private property and national security.
That's what I say.
What's interesting, they just pull the movie from the theaters. They pulled it in totality. It's going to be on Netflix, Apple tv, anywhere. It's going to leak, though. Guaranteed it's going to leak. It's going to be one of the most popular movies of 2015.
And it's going to get outwardly move. Why cowardly move? Why do we. Why did they pull the movie altogether? I mean, if we're going to do this now because we have a threat from North Korea, what's the next one? Who's the next thug that's going to push us around?
I have to. I don't agree with George Clooney on many things, but I think he's spot on.
Me too.
And he's right. And thing is, you know, this is America. You know, we take our lumps when necessary, but we shouldn't bow down to anyone else. But on this topic, I am concerned when you think about, you know, you know, North Korea that can hack us or hack our corporations may be more dangerous than a nuclear North Korea because you can, you can, you know, Americans, our day of our way of life, you know, what we do every day is very important to us. And if you can shut down major corporations, that's a big deal. So this is an extremely serious issue. You're Right. The administration should be out front on this. But like he said, you know, they seem to always be a step behind when it becomes a national security issue.
It's just extraordinary.
I think data breach actually is a big thing because once they hacked their emails, there was kind of the fox in the hen house. And I think Sony kind of realized they were out of their league. And, you know, it's not really their responsibility to enforce censorship in America. And I think that's a responsibility that they don't have the wherewithal.
Right. It's the administration protecting this, and we haven't heard a word from them. It really is outrageous. You said you think the President's going to be talking about this today?
I mean, there's rumors he's going to comment on. I think he needs to comment on it. I mean, it's a national security issue. It's.
What's the comment? They already pulled the movie and clearly North Korea. Korea has bullied America.
I think he should just come out like a bad trader and comment on what happened after the fact. There's no proactive risk management here. There's not getting in front of it. There's just pure reaction after the fact when he has to react to it.
I think it's just extraordinary. By the way, Matt, the end of the movie has been leaked.
Right?
Okay. It's out there.
And the fact that Jonah Hill, of all people, is actually at the center of this national security controversy, given the type of person he is, is just hysterical.
When you look at. I know you're right. When you look at 2015, the CY security area is got to be one of the biggest stories that we're going to be. Continue to live with. I wonder what implications that has a huge issue.
Yeah. I mean, Snapchat, you look at Snapchat, a company that has over 100 million users and millennials sort of are adopting it as a de facto way to communicate this ephemeral type of communications where it disappears and they don't have to bear the repercussions in the future. Companies are going to start to adopt platforms like that because not all messaging needs to be permanent and can disappear. And that removes a lot of the hacking fear that can come out of companies if the. If the messaging just disappears. And I think you're going to start to see more and more companies shift in that direction.
Here is a terrorist act. I mean, at the end of the day, I mean, you know, North Korea would be more effective militarily with Legos than they are currently. But with this. This matters. It really does matter.
Which is what you said earlier is even more important than the nuclear capabilities.
100%.
All right, gentlemen. Matt Brain, thank you so much for joining us. Great insights as always, Keith and Mike.
