In the digital age, technology plays a crucial role in modern elections, offering both advancements and security risks. While electronic voting systems improve accessibility, particularly for overseas voters, they also introduce vulnerabilities that can be exploited by cybercriminals.
Cybersecurity Threats in Elections
The rise of artificial intelligence (AI) and deepfakes has intensified the spread of misinformation, posing a serious threat to election integrity. Cyberattacks such as phishing, denial-of-service (DoS), and malware can compromise voter data, disrupt election processes, and manipulate public perception. For instance, phishing emails targeting election officials can lead to unauthorized access to critical voter databases, potentially enabling identity theft or voter suppression.
A key example of such risks is the 2016 cyberattack on the Philippine Commission on Elections (Comelec), where the agency’s website was defaced, and its entire database was leaked online. This incident underscored the urgent need for stronger cybersecurity measures to protect electoral systems from digital threats.
Strengthening Electoral Security
To safeguard elections, implementing multi-factor authentication and advanced encryption is essential. These security measures help protect official accounts and election databases from unauthorized access. Collaboration among governments, electoral bodies, and cybersecurity experts is also critical to swiftly detect and mitigate emerging threats.
The Philippines has been using an automated election system since 2010, incorporating optical scan vote counting machines and electronic transmission of results. This system has improved vote-counting efficiency and reduced opportunities for manual tampering. However, as cyber threats evolve, continuous assessment and enhancement of security measures are necessary to maintain public trust and uphold the integrity of democratic processes.
