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In a spirited response to tech mogul Elon Musk's call for eliminating electronic voting machines (EVMs), BJP leader and former Union minister Rajeev Chandrasekhar asserted that secure digital hardware is indeed achievable. Musk, known for his ventures in SpaceX, Tesla, and X (formerly Twitter), ignited a debate about EVM security, advocating for their removal due to the potential for hacking by humans or artificial intelligence.
Musk's statement, posted on X, stemmed from a concern raised by American politician and conspiracy theorist Robert F. Kennedy Jr. about issues with EVMs in Puerto Rico's recent primary elections. Kennedy, running for the US presidency as an independent candidate, pointed to an Associated Press report highlighting "hundreds of voting irregularities" and emphasized the need for a paper trail to address such issues.
Chandrasekhar, who served as the Minister of State for the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology in the previous government, countered Musk's claim as a "huge sweeping generalization" that overlooks the possibility of creating secure digital hardware. He argued that while Musk's concerns might apply to countries where voting machines are built using standard computing platforms with internet connectivity, they are not relevant to India.
Chandrasekhar highlighted that Indian EVMs are custom designed, secure, and isolated from any network or media. He emphasized that they lack connectivity, Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, and internet access, effectively preventing any external interference. He explained that the EVMs use factory-programmed controllers that cannot be reprogrammed, further bolstering their security.
The BJP leader's response underscored India's robust approach to election integrity, emphasizing the meticulous design and secure architecture of its EVMs. He further offered to provide a tutorial on how to properly design and build secure electronic voting machines, showcasing India's expertise in this field.
Chandrasekhar's confident stance reflects India's commitment to maintaining the integrity of its electoral processes. By offering a tutorial, he aims to share India's experience and expertise with the global community, promoting the development of secure and reliable voting systems.
The debate surrounding EVM security highlights the growing concerns about cyber threats and the importance of robust security measures in safeguarding elections. As technology evolves, the need for secure and tamper-proof voting systems becomes increasingly critical to ensure the integrity and legitimacy of democratic processes.
While Musk's concerns about EVM security are valid, Chandrasekhar's response emphasizes the importance of understanding the nuances of different systems and the feasibility of building secure hardware. India's experience with its custom-designed, isolated EVMs serves as a model for other countries seeking to ensure the integrity of their elections.
Source: BJP leader counters Elon Musk's EVM hacking concerns, offers tutorial on secure design