Hacking Democracy

[Arilin Nydelahar]

Just curious if anyone else watched this Documentary on HBO the other day or TIVO'd it. I just watched it this morning, and taking into account any documentary is going to have a slant one way or another this one was still very disconcerting to say the very least.

So, anyone else see it?

[Vikaz]

Yeah, I saw it.

I was pretty impressed with the last part where they hacked the memory chip. I kept thinking "This wouldnt be an issue if they were using Open Source software" and then the guy hacked the hardware. Fuck. I don't live in the US so I can't vote there, but man, I'd be pretty pissed of if this was happening here.

[Gormal]

I really really want to see this. I'll pay someone to record this onto a DVD and send it to me. I've read a synopsis and I gotta see it for myself!

[Ragorn]

Haven't seen this one in particular, but I've seen a half dozen others like it.

It's not likely that someone will be able to hack a voting machine on the fly. However, that's not really the issue... the issue is that it can be done, and with an event as important as our national election, any chance is too much.

Diebold makes ATM machines which are virtually hack-proof without external hardware (card readers, etc). Why can't they do the same for voting machines?

[Arilin Nydelahar]

I really really want to see this. I'll pay someone to record this onto a DVD and send it to me. I've read a synopsis and I gotta see it for myself!

It's on video.google.com. Go here to see it.

[teflor the ranger]

Like a paper ballot isn't a vote for Chad?

[Vikaz]

It's not likely that someone will be able to hack a voting machine on the fly. However, that's not really the issue... the issue is that it can be done, and with an event as important as our national election, any chance is too much.

The people voting on election day aren't the ones hacking the voting machine, its the people that have access to the machine before they are put in place and powered up.

[Birile]

Just watched it via that link...

Democrats, Republicans and any other person who votes should be concerned IMHO. It's not really about partisanship.

[Gormal]

My Inmarsat connection to the internet makes 56k users look like they're going ludicrous speed.

Gimme a DVD Mike, I'll Paypal you some cash or something.

[daggaz]

Ragorn said , 'Diebold has been making hack proof ATM machines for decades. Why can't they do the same with voting machines?'

The answer of course, is, they CAN. Which begs the question, 'Why DON'T they do the same with voting machines?'

One can argue all day long (educated or just bluffing) that the situation is different, the code is more complex, or whatever you want, but there is one single key fact which cannot be denied. Every ATM machine in the country keeps a paper receipt of every transaction. Just in case. The banks demand this. In fact, from what I have read, every touch-screen device made by DIeBold that handles money in some form or another does this. But NONE of their voting machines do this. Are our votes worth less than our dollars? Can it be explained by simple shortsightedness? (despite the fact there have been loud cries for accountability -a paper trail- to keep the vote trustworthy.) Or is there something more sinister going on..?

Manipulation of elections, whether through voter disenfranchisement, ballot stuffing, or other outright fraudulent and highly illegal practises, have been going on for decades in the good ole USofA. What sets this situation apart from the past is, now it can be done wholesale, affecting millions of people, rather than just occuring on the local level. And this time, its nearly impossible to prove it.

Electronic voting as it stands constitutes the greatest threat to our democracy America has ever faced. It is worse than Hitler, worse than the darkest day of the coldwar; it is the latest in a line of assaults fired at us from within, perpetrated by the very organisations that fuel America's growth and power. It is corporate wealth resolving itself into a direct attack on our most fundamental bastion of freedom -the vote. This is fascism, this is in America, and this is now.

Go to blackboxvoting.org and read more. Your country depends on it.


For those of you who would argue the danger is past, or even disproven, by the latest democratic sweep of the house and senate, I would say three things.

1. Are you so sure the democratic party is not equally compromised and thus serving the status quo? We have had a few carrots tossed our way, cheaper medicare and student loans, etc.. but we have also heard they will stay in Iraq, and that there will be no discussion whatsoever of impeachment (despite Mr. Bush's clear and numerous violations of the law, the constitution, and the American spirit).

2. Why show your hand when it would be obvious you are cheating? Save those cards to be played more carefully, and keep your system intact over the years. Election 2008 is only two years from now, and only the first in (hopefully) many more.

3. Even if there is no concerted effort to manipulate elections using these machines, the fact that the system is so flawed is not just embarassing, it is outright unacceptable. This grave and serious threat MUST be eliminated, and immediately.

[amolol]

what kinda boat you on gormal? dont they have dir. sat. links there? should be routed through germany if they do. if not then cant you get a link on the hyper line?

[Ambar]

anyone that says ATM and machine in the same sentence should be shot :(

[Vaprak]

anyone that says ATM and machine in the same sentence should be shot :(

You're note aware of Automated Teller Machine machines then?

[Ambar]

About as aware as PIN numbers .. *sigh*

*click*

[Sarvis]

I think you need to read Vaprak's post more carefully, he was making a joke.

[Yadir]

That reminds me of my favorite - the loading screen for Windows 2000. It said Windows 2000 - Based on NT Technology. Of course, NT stands for 'New Technology'.

Ahh.. redundancy.

[teflor the ranger]

I think you need to read Vaprak's post more carefully, he was making a joke.

.......not enough energy to... argh... .... .. .. ........................................................................................................................................................................................................................................

[Gormal]

Satellite links are not all they're cracked up to be. When its running, the entire ship runs off of the same link and its still like 56k. It cuts out all of the time for things like abrupt course changes, weather, human error, drills, etc. Its by no means reliable.

[teflor the ranger]

Gorm, tell them to stop painting the dish.

[Ambar]

Gorm, tell them to stop painting the dish.

they are clearly marked DO NOT PAINT

*duh* :P


o wait i better watch it fore someone tells me you were joking (lol)

[teflor the ranger]

The thing I always loved was that "DO NOT PAINT" was always painted on.

[Ruxur]

for yet another non objective opinion

http://www6.diebold.com/dieboldes/

[alendar]

That reminds me of my favorite - the loading screen for Windows 2000. It said Windows 2000 - Based on NT Technology. Of course, NT stands for 'New Technology'.

Ahh.. redundancy.

i thought it stood for "nice try"

or better luck "next time"

:)

[Ruxur]

enjoy your new technology technology