Online voting worth questioning?
I haven't seen any US election results yet, but wanted to comment on the risks of online voting.
Having experienced deliberate online hacking, spamming, and what-not for several years now, I've started taking a closer look at online privacy and security issues recently. Here's what I've learned: standard internet security (eg, banking, bill payment, shopping, etc) is far from secure.
What you may not know is companies often keep mum about actual hacking problems or theft, due to fear of negative publicity. Authorities try hard to persuade organizations to disclose incidents of hacking, but are often unsuccessful.
With that in mind, think about online voting and consider this:
1. U.S. is co-ordinating a worldwide data mining project called Echelon. (see bottom) Anybody who's ever used the internet may be profiled. More about Echelon.
2. Online voting could be rendered insecure through many different means (eg, computer screen monitoring, key-logging, temporary files and 'internet tracks' left on computer, data leaking in transit, remote viewing or hacking, etc).
(Note: I'm no techie, so these are my own descriptions for electronic intrusion.)
I've said before that opting for manual balloting during our own recent federal election - and claiming this method is 'more accurate' and allows 'better control' over security - is flawed logic and a highly questionable move on the part of our government.
But I also think online voting is a big mistake - especially in the U.S. Given that America is the most powerful nation in the world, and is actively engaged in data mining projects and other 'Homeland Security' measures, how safe does that make one feel about online voting? People's voting information might be viewed, traced, and possibly stored for future reference.
Voting is a basic right. It's a means of preserving fundamental freedoms and democracy through one's choice of government officials. (Is there much choice??)
The FBI and others could very well abuse their technological powers, in order to determine people's political leanings, or even voting patterns over time. Considering what happened in Florida last time out, with people actually being blocked from voting polls, the American public should likewise be questioning the risks of internet voting.
ECHELON
A multinational survellance network, centered at Sugar Grove, WV, that intercepts all forms of electronic communications.
CARNIVORE
An FBI system to monitor email and other traffic through Internet service providers. (source)
Having experienced deliberate online hacking, spamming, and what-not for several years now, I've started taking a closer look at online privacy and security issues recently. Here's what I've learned: standard internet security (eg, banking, bill payment, shopping, etc) is far from secure.
What you may not know is companies often keep mum about actual hacking problems or theft, due to fear of negative publicity. Authorities try hard to persuade organizations to disclose incidents of hacking, but are often unsuccessful.
With that in mind, think about online voting and consider this:
1. U.S. is co-ordinating a worldwide data mining project called Echelon. (see bottom) Anybody who's ever used the internet may be profiled. More about Echelon.
2. Online voting could be rendered insecure through many different means (eg, computer screen monitoring, key-logging, temporary files and 'internet tracks' left on computer, data leaking in transit, remote viewing or hacking, etc).
(Note: I'm no techie, so these are my own descriptions for electronic intrusion.)
I've said before that opting for manual balloting during our own recent federal election - and claiming this method is 'more accurate' and allows 'better control' over security - is flawed logic and a highly questionable move on the part of our government.
But I also think online voting is a big mistake - especially in the U.S. Given that America is the most powerful nation in the world, and is actively engaged in data mining projects and other 'Homeland Security' measures, how safe does that make one feel about online voting? People's voting information might be viewed, traced, and possibly stored for future reference.
Voting is a basic right. It's a means of preserving fundamental freedoms and democracy through one's choice of government officials. (Is there much choice??)
The FBI and others could very well abuse their technological powers, in order to determine people's political leanings, or even voting patterns over time. Considering what happened in Florida last time out, with people actually being blocked from voting polls, the American public should likewise be questioning the risks of internet voting.
ECHELON
A multinational survellance network, centered at Sugar Grove, WV, that intercepts all forms of electronic communications.
CARNIVORE
An FBI system to monitor email and other traffic through Internet service providers. (source)
posted by outside the box... at
11:03 PM
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