Elon Musk Warns AI Could Hack EVMs: Urges Against Use in US Elections, Rahul Gandhi Compares to Black Box
Elon Musk Advises Against Using Electronic Voting Machines
Elon Musk, the world’s wealthiest entrepreneur, has advised against using electronic voting machines (EVMs) for the US presidential elections. In a post on social media site X, he stated, “Electronic voting machines should be abolished. They are at risk of being hacked by either humans or AI. Although the risk is low, it is significant.”
Musk made this comment by retweeting a post from US presidential candidate Robert F. Kennedy Jr. Kennedy’s post highlighted irregularities related to EVMs in Puerto Rico’s elections.
Kennedy wrote, “There were many irregularities during the EVM voting in Puerto Rico’s primary elections. Fortunately, there was a paper trail, so the problem was identified, and the vote count was corrected. Imagine what happens where there is no paper trail.”
Elon Musk Advises Against Using Electronic Voting Machines
Elon Musk, the world’s wealthiest entrepreneur, has advised against using electronic voting machines (EVMs) for the US presidential elections. In a post on social media site X, he stated, “Electronic voting machines should be abolished. They are at risk of being hacked by either humans or AI. Although the risk is low, it is significant.”
Musk made this comment by retweeting a post from US presidential candidate Robert F. Kennedy Jr. Kennedy’s post highlighted irregularities related to EVMs in Puerto Rico’s elections.
Kennedy wrote, “There were many irregularities during the EVM voting in Puerto Rico’s primary elections. Fortunately, there was a paper trail, so the problem was identified, and the vote count was corrected. Imagine what happens where there is no paper trail.”
He added, “American citizens need to know that their every vote is counted. There can be no interference in their elections. To avoid electronic interference in elections, they need to return to paper ballots.”
In November, the United States will hold its presidential elections. It is expected that President Joe Biden will be the Democratic Party’s candidate and former President Donald Trump will be the Republican Party’s candidate.
On the other hand, Congress MP Rahul Gandhi reposted Elon Musk’s message, stating, “In India, EVMs are like black boxes. No one is allowed to inspect them. Serious concerns are being raised about transparency in our election process. When there is a lack of accountability in institutions, democracy becomes a farce and falls prey to fraud.”
Supreme Court Case on EVMs in India
This April, the issue of 100% cross-checking of Electronic Voting Machine (EVM) votes with Voter Verifiable Paper Audit Trail (VVPAT) slips reached the Supreme Court of India. However, the Supreme Court dismissed the petitions related to this demand. Despite this, several individuals affiliated with various political parties continue to raise questions about the reliability of EVMs.
AI Platform Launches by Major Companies
Artificial Intelligence (AI) has significantly impacted many aspects of our lives. AI is utilized for various tasks, including creating medicines, generating images or videos, and assembling cars. Many companies, including Google and Microsoft, have launched their AI platforms.
Potential Digital India Bill on AI
To curb the generation of deep fake videos and content by AI, the Modi government is considering introducing the Digital India Bill. According to media reports, this bill will discuss the better use and regulation of AI technology. Sources indicate that the government will also seek the support of opposition parties for this bill.
