During a recent interview discussing the Titan sub catastrophe, James Cameron, the director of the movie Titanic, drew eerie parallels between the 1912 Titanic disaster and the tragedy involving the sub-Titan. In the 1912 RMS Titanic disaster, the captain ignored warnings of ice ahead and recklessly plowed ahead at full speed on a moonless night, resulting in the loss of over 1,500 innocent lives.
Similarly, Stockton Rush, the captain of the sub-Titan and CEO of OceanGate, received repeated warnings about the vessel’s safety, lack of certification for its integrity, absence of a tracking device, experimental deep diving practices, and lack of a backup sub. Despite these warnings, Rush proceeded at full speed, endangering the lives of passengers and causing the loss of innocent lives. This kind of willful negligence is a clear case of disregard for safety.
The issue of willful negligence is not limited to maritime disasters but is also prevalent in IT security and compliance for small businesses. Some business owners display willful ignorance, often due to inexperience and misguided advice from IT firms that lack expertise in implementing proper security measures. Others knowingly ignore the risks if cyber-attacks won’t happen to them or rely on cloud applications that may not provide adequate protection. This group often neglects to verify if their IT personnel follow the necessary security protocols and may lack cyber liability insurance, leaving their businesses vulnerable.
The most unforgivable form of willful negligence is determined negligence. These individuals stubbornly refuse to adopt proper security measures, disaster recovery plans, or insurance despite being fully aware of the risks. They ignore all evidence and expert advice, acting irresponsibly and endangering themselves and others.
In the case of the sub-tragedy, experts pointed out numerous risky behaviors that Rush allowed, from inadequate hull testing to a lack of emergency systems and proper certifications. Rush’s egotistical assumption that he knew better than everyone else around him exacerbated the situation.
Everyone makes mistakes and has blind spots, but the critical question is whether one chooses to remain willfully ignorant or deliberately continue a harmful course of action, affecting both themselves and others. CEOs of companies holding sensitive data must take their cyber protection responsibilities seriously, as negligence in this area can harm countless individuals.
If willful negligence persists, it’s only a matter of time before a personal “Titanic-size wreck” occurs, causing significant harm not only to the individual but also to others who have entrusted them with sensitive information.
