More than 6,000 Filipino computer experts based in Singapore will attempt to hack the system to be used by the Commission on Elections (Comelec) to pilot test Internet voting there from July 20 to Aug. 8.
“Filipino IT experts in Singapore have signified they will try to hack the system professionally, not for personal gain or personal upliftment,” Comelec Commissioner and Overseas Absentee Voting Committee head Florentino Tuazon said.
The Comelec is holding the mock election to test the technology of Scytl Consortium, a Spain-based company contracted to implement the P23.5-million project. The agency will be using national heroes as senatorial bets and fictitious groups as candidates for the party-list elections.
Tuazon said hackers would be submitting a written report to the Comelec whether or not they penetrated the Scytl system.
“If, indeed, they are able to do that, they have to show proof. I think even our embassy there, without our knowledge, will allow non-registered voters to try to vote through the Internet,” he added.
Tuazon said Beverly Tacur, who heads the International Foundation for Election System (IFES) in the Philippines, has agreed to send “auditors” that will attempt to hack the system before, during and after the pilot test of Internet voting.
IFES is a non-profit organization funded by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID). It is based in Washington.
“The important phase of the pilot testing would be to check the penetration aspect of the system. In other words, to find out if there are hackers that can get into the system,” he said.
He expressed confidence that the Scytl system is secure.
“I am very confident. When I talked to them (Scytl), they were very confident. In fact they have already secured two contracts for the 2008 presidential elections in the US. They will participate in the 2008 presidential elections in certain states involving particular groups of voters,” he added.
After the pilot testing, it will be determined if Internet voting can be implemented for overseas absentee voters in the 2010 presidential elections.