The Commission on Elections (Comelec) is gearing up to protect its servers from potential hacking attempts during the 2025 midterm polls, as announced by its chairperson on Wednesday.
Concerns have been raised about foreign entities trying to disrupt the upcoming elections, where the Philippines will be using a fully automated system for the first time.
Comelec Chairperson George Erwin Garcia emphasized the importance of early preparation and timely procurement to ensure that the system is tested and all security measures are in place. The poll body’s information technology will be equipped with hardware and software features to safeguard against cyberattacks.
Garcia highlighted the significance of readiness among IT personnel and the lessons learned from past experiences. These efforts aim to guarantee a hack-proof election IT system in 2025.
These preparations follow warnings from National Security Council Assistant Director General Jonathan Malaya about potential foreign interference in the upcoming elections. Malaya cited a pattern of foreign interference in elections across various democracies and the involvement of Beijing-backed hacker groups in cyberattacks on democratic institutions.
The threat of influencing the outcome of the 2025 polls through tactics like disinformation campaigns or hacking into electoral databases is a growing concern. The 2016 breach of Comelec’s systems, which led to the release of voters’ personal details online, serves as a reminder of the risks involved.
2025 is expected to be a monumental year for elections globally, with over 60 countries holding or set to hold national elections. Cybersecurity experts have identified electoral systems as prime targets for hacking to disrupt electoral processes.
The efforts to safeguard the integrity of the 2025 elections are crucial in the face of evolving cyber threats and foreign interference tactics.
