• Home
  • Latest
  • Fortune 500
  • Finance
  • Tech
  • Leadership
  • Lifestyle
  • Rankings
  • Multimedia

Trendingnow

1

FedEx CEO says we are in the middle of the biggest supply chain shift he’s seen in 35 years: ‘We are the referendum’

2

26 Meta employees accuse Mark Zuckerberg of using AI to target 8,000 layoffs against workers on medical, parental or family leave

3

He sold his last company to Palantir. Now he's betting $32 million that robots can fix construction's labor crisis

1

FedEx CEO says we are in the middle of the biggest supply chain shift he’s seen in 35 years: ‘We are the referendum’

2

26 Meta employees accuse Mark Zuckerberg of using AI to target 8,000 layoffs against workers on medical, parental or family leave

3

He sold his last company to Palantir. Now he's betting $32 million that robots can fix construction's labor crisis
TechBen Carson

Ben Carson Wants to Create New Federal Agency for Cyber Security

By
Jonathan Vanian
Jonathan Vanian
Down Arrow Button Icon
By
Jonathan Vanian
Jonathan Vanian
Down Arrow Button Icon
January 25, 2016, 6:49 PM ET
Ben Carson Makes Announcement About Seeking Republican Presidential Nomination
DETROIT, MI - MAY 4: Republican Dr. Ben Carson, a retired pediatric neurosurgeon, speaks as he officially announces his candidacy for President of the United States at the Music Hall Center for the Performing Arts May 4, 2015 in Detroit, Michigan. Carson was scheduled to travel today to Iowa, but changed his plans when his mother became critically ill. He now will be traveling to Dallas instead to be with his mother Sonya. (Photo by Bill Pugliano/Getty Images)Photograph by Bill Pugliano via Getty Images
Add Fortune on Google for similar content.

Presidential hopeful Ben Carson believes the only way to keep the U.S. safe from major hacking attacks and data breaches is to create a new federal government agency.

The retired neurosurgeon and Republican presidential nominee said on Monday that he would establish a National Cyber Security Administration that would act as a central hub for all of the government’s cyber security programs and initiatives.

Carson, who generally opposes new government spending and advocates for shrinking down the government, did not say how big the NCSA would be or how much it cost. But he stressed that it would not be “a new federal bureaucracy.”

Carson’s proposal comes at a time of deep worries about China allegedly hacking into government computers to recent major data breaches at companies like insurance giant Anthem. The Obama Administration has acknowledged repeated hackings that have exposed millions of social security numbers, health information, and employment histories.

In a outline of his plan, Carson explained that government agencies do not talk enough to each other about their cyber defenses. A new agency would essentially be a middleman that various federal departments could ask for guidance about how to best secure their data.

Carson’s plans don’t explain what constitutes proper data handling practices, but he promised that, if elected, “no agency or official, regardless of seniority, will think they could keep sensitive or classified information on personal email servers.” That is likely a reference to Hillary Clinton and her practice of using a personal email account to access work-related emails. This email issue is a focal point of ire for many Republican candidates who say she should be prosecuted for mishandling sensitive information.

Get Data Sheet, Fortune’s technology newsletter.

Carson’s new cyber security administration would also act as a research organization that would explore new user verification technologies that could replace the common password system that’s widely used today. Additionally, the NCSA would act as a national standards body for cyber security tools and would “provide certifications for products which meet established security standards.”

Typically, Republican presidential candidates rail against the federal government for general incompetence, particularly at the Internal Revenue Service and the Department of Veterans Affairs. In this case, Carson is a singing a different tune by painting the federal government as an able arbiter of deciding good computer security from bad.

As for the growing discontent between the government and businesses like technology giants Apple (AAPL) and Salesforce (CRM) over the notion of sharing security data to potentially prevent future attacks, Carson believes that the new agency would help bring them closer together. But he doesn’t explain how he would bring the two sides together on something that is a deeply divisive issue involving privacy and how the government accesses user information from tech companies.

“We must build incentives to ensure critical private entities, like those that are a part of the electric grid, have the right incentives to maintain top-notch security practices with up to date software patches,” he wrote.

Finally, the NCSA would also act as a central hub for privacy and civil liberty worries by giving Americans “one phone number to call for any complaint or concern” they may have about how their personal data is being used by the government. The agency won’t be part of the military, but it “will work with them when national security demands it.”

For more on the presidential race watch our video:

Carson compared the need for the U.S. to improve cyber security to the Cold War era space race between the U.S. and the former Soviet Union. He believes that the government is slow to adapting to advances in technology and his proposed NCSA will function like NASA and will “organize and streamline our efforts to secure America’s online presence.”

According to recent polling data, Carson currently ranks fourth place for the upcoming Iowa Caucuses, in which Donald Trump leads the Republican candidates. It was only last October in which Carson was reported to be leading Trump in the Iowa Caucus.

About the Author
By Jonathan Vanian
LinkedIn iconTwitter icon

Jonathan Vanian is a former Fortune reporter. He covered business technology, cybersecurity, artificial intelligence, data privacy, and other topics.

See full bioRight Arrow Button Icon
Add Fortune on Google for similar content.

Latest in Tech

Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025

Most Popular

Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Fortune Secondary Logo
Rankings
  • 100 Best Companies
  • Fortune 500
  • Global 500
  • Fortune 500 Europe
  • Most Powerful Women
  • World's Most Admired Companies
  • See All Rankings
  • Lists Calendar
Sections
  • Finance
  • Fortune Crypto
  • Features
  • Leadership
  • Health
  • Commentary
  • Success
  • Retail
  • Mpw
  • Tech
  • Lifestyle
  • CEO Initiative
  • Asia
  • Politics
  • Conferences
  • Europe
  • Newsletters
  • Personal Finance
  • Environment
  • Magazine
  • Education
Customer Support
  • Frequently Asked Questions
  • Customer Service Portal
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms Of Use
  • Single Issues For Purchase
  • International Print
Commercial Services
  • Advertising
  • Fortune Brand Studio
  • Fortune Analytics
  • Fortune Conferences
  • Business Development
  • Group Subscriptions
About Us
  • About Us
  • Press Center
  • Work At Fortune
  • Terms And Conditions
  • Site Map
  • About Us
  • Press Center
  • Work At Fortune
  • Terms And Conditions
  • Site Map
  • Facebook icon
  • Twitter icon
  • LinkedIn icon
  • Instagram icon
  • Pinterest icon

Latest in Tech

merck
HealthDrugs
The cholesterol shot you couldn’t afford is now a pill
By Matthew Perrone and The Associated PressJuly 16, 2026
3 hours ago
tesla
Big TechTesla
Runaway Tesla that crashed into a grandmother’s living room was actually being steered by a human, investigators find
By Bernard Condon and The Associated PressJuly 16, 2026
3 hours ago
Warren Buffett rides in a golf cart
Big TechWarren Buffett
Buffett says AI giants are ‘playing a game they don’t want to play’ in the AI race, reveals he was behind Berkshire’s $31 billion bet on Google
By Mia OsmonbekovJuly 16, 2026
3 hours ago
scam
CybersecurityCrime
‘I want to cry, I want to vomit’: Meet a 43-year-old who lost $90,000 to an online boyfriend she never met
By Juliet Linderman and The Associated PressJuly 16, 2026
3 hours ago
Satya Nadella
NewslettersEye on AI
Big Tech’s top executives warn enterprises are giving away too much to AI labs
By Beatrice NolanJuly 16, 2026
4 hours ago
school
AIEducation
84% of students use AI for homework. Only 3 in 10 schools have rules for it
By Brett DeJager and The ConversationJuly 16, 2026
8 hours ago

Most Popular

FedEx CEO says we are in the middle of the biggest supply chain shift he’s seen in 35 years: ‘We are the referendum’
C-Suite
FedEx CEO says we are in the middle of the biggest supply chain shift he’s seen in 35 years: ‘We are the referendum’
By Fortune EditorsJuly 15, 2026
1 day ago
26 Meta employees accuse Mark Zuckerberg of using AI to target 8,000 layoffs against workers on medical, parental or family leave
Law
26 Meta employees accuse Mark Zuckerberg of using AI to target 8,000 layoffs against workers on medical, parental or family leave
By Barbara Ortutay, Alexandra Olson and The Associated PressJuly 15, 2026
1 day ago
He sold his last company to Palantir. Now he's betting $32 million that robots can fix construction's labor crisis
Innovation
He sold his last company to Palantir. Now he's betting $32 million that robots can fix construction's labor crisis
By Lily Mae LazarusJuly 15, 2026
1 day ago
Trump's 'American Flag Blue' in the Lincoln Memorial pool is already gray — and the Olympic canoer 'vandal' is fighting his arrest
Politics
Trump's 'American Flag Blue' in the Lincoln Memorial pool is already gray — and the Olympic canoer 'vandal' is fighting his arrest
By Matthew Daly and The Associated PressJuly 16, 2026
10 hours ago
MacKenzie Scott, Melinda French Gates, and Lauren Sánchez Bezos are rewriting the rules of billionaire giving—one quietly, one strategically, one very publicly
Newsletters
MacKenzie Scott, Melinda French Gates, and Lauren Sánchez Bezos are rewriting the rules of billionaire giving—one quietly, one strategically, one very publicly
By Sydney LakeJuly 14, 2026
2 days ago
Jamie Dimon understands why people are anti-rich: 'We have, in fact, left the lower-income folks behind' and 'that's kind of annoying'
Economy
Jamie Dimon understands why people are anti-rich: 'We have, in fact, left the lower-income folks behind' and 'that's kind of annoying'
By Eleanor PringleJuly 15, 2026
1 day ago

© 2026 Fortune Media IP Limited. All Rights Reserved. Use of this site constitutes acceptance of our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy | CA Notice at Collection and Privacy Notice | Do Not Sell/Share My Personal Information
FORTUNE is a trademark of Fortune Media IP Limited, registered in the U.S. and other countries. FORTUNE may receive compensation for some links to products and services on this website. Offers may be subject to change without notice.