Open Source is the Future of Democracy
A report from a number of computer science academics suggests that open-source is the most viable route for electronic democracy
Posted by Killian McAleese, 20th April 2011
It may not surprise you to read that at Open Plus we like open-source software. We think it makes sense, and we like the freedom, equality and meritocracy often associated with it.
This is particularly the case because what we don't like are the constraints that proprietary software vendors can place on e-retailers and others, selling them rigid packages which don't give them that freedom we love so dearly.
But the relationship between open source and the democratic ideal took a new and interesting turn recently as a group of computer science academics in Australia advised the federal government that the best way to ensure that no votes will be miscast under a proposed e-voting system would be to use open-source software for the process.
The Computing Research and Education Association of Australasia (CORE), which draws members from universities in Australia and New Zealand, submitted the report which suggested that e-voting presented “challenges for privacy, integrity and transparency.”
A No-Brainer?
A key recommendation from CORE in addressing this was that “voting systems, including their source code, all documentation and reports, and the associated physical security procedures should be available to e-voting and security experts and the public.”
CORE also made reference to the iVote system, used previously in elections New South Wales, suggesting the system had been deployed “in a clandestine manner.” Commenting on this and other e-voting systems, the report stated that, “whether the integrity or privacy of the systems meets our expectations is unclear because we have no details about them.”
However, internet voting in general is not viewed positively in the report, which suggests that postal voting has more integrity.
But it would seem that the trend is going in the e-voting direction, having already been pursued in New South Wales, Victoria and in Estonia. CORE's pragmatism matched, no doubt, with the expertise of its members would also seem to suggest a sense of realism and even inevitability about the onset of e-voting.
But one thing is made clear: if e-voting must be done, then open source is the way forward.
Is open source the only way to achieve the required integrity and transparency?
Is it a no-brainer?
Related News
Is Open Source the Future of UK Retail? 1st April 2011
Democracy Needs Online Voting (Kaspersky) (from ZDNet Australia) 31st March 2011
Join the Conversation
Let us know your view in the comment box below
-
