Dutch hackers highlight the fatal flaws in electronic voting machines.
In the Netherlands a group of computer experts which calls itself "wij vertrouwen stemcomputers niet" (We Don't Trust Voting Computers) has hacked electronic voting machines and published their findings online. The group wanted to demonstrate how easy it would be to cheat the electoral system.
The computer experts say that the hardware itself is deeply flawed. They managed to access the source code and could potentially steel an election. They claim that they can re-programme machines with vote cheating software simply by changing two memory chips. This according to the Dutch experts can be done in three minutes.
The hackers explain how easy it is to cheat the system and potentially fix votes.
We can set whatever we want as the election result.
The machines can be accessed using one key, which can be ordered online for €1. The same key works in each of eight thousand Dutch voting machines because each lock is identical.
Anyone with access to the machines, from corrupt government officials to a government desperate to hang on to power could rig the vote.
The hackers also found that the machines give off a radio signal which can be read up to 25 metres away with cheap equipment which reveals how the electorate votes.
The Irish government has spent over €50 million buying and storing the same type of voting machines.
MPs at the Dutch parliament are now demanding an emergency debate on the hacking incident ahead of its general election next month.
An RTÉ News report broadcast on 5 October 2006. The reporter is Sean Whelan.
