“The Electoral Commission has admitted it failed a cybersecurity test in the same year hackers successfully attacked the organisation.”

Oops.

“The commission said it did not pass the test due to … an earlier version of Windows software on some laptops and a dated version of staff mobiles. It said those problems were not linked to the attack…”

Maybe not, but they don’t speak well to the body’s security controls.

#InfoSec #ElectoralCommission #Hacking

https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2023/sep/05/electoral-commission-failed-cybersecurity-test-in-same-year-as-hack

This is big! Meeting the #cyberessentials requirements is important to show an organisation can be trusted to keep data secure. That the #electoralcommission still haven't done enough to pass it is incredibly shoddy.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-66709556

@PatrickOBeirne you will need Irish versions too!

I think there’s a better constituency name to be found outside of the county names.

I think the Constituency of #Avondale would make a nice nod to history. Probably find more favour in Wicklow than Wexford though.

Or maybe the Constituency of #FernsAvoca

#ElectoralCommission

I really don’t understand this county boundary fascination for constituencies.
The distortion between 3,4 &5 TD constituencies and its inevitable effects on smaller party representation in itself is an aberration.
Ideally all constituencies should be same size, elect same number of TDs and similar population base.
#electoralcommission #ireland

I need to share this about the number of TDs in Waterford, where I'm from and call home.

#deise #waterford #ireland #irishpolitics #electoralcommission #irish

https://waterford-news.ie/2023/08/30/again-and-again-for-waterford-as-electoral-constituency-retains-status-quo/

County loyalty the knee jerk reaction in Gorey but better representation is the likely outcome for the town.

Undoubtedly though the name is suboptimal.

Maybe the constituency of Ferns-Avoca would work for both sides?

Gorey and Arklow locals on new 'Wexlow' constituency https://www.rte.ie/news/2023/0830/1402547-wiclow-wexford/

#ElectoralCommission

Wicklow-Wexford sounds daft. They should have called it the Hill-Bellies. #ElectoralCommission

Booing at the #ElectoralCommission as it keeps #Galway West as a 5 seater, I want a Galway City 3 seater so I don't have to represented by the likes of Dev Óg.

So Roscommon would be finally reunified but poor aul South Donegal would still be the afterthought in the constantly changing mish mash that is the Sligo-Leitrim constituency.
Dont see that having a huge impact on the end result , would prob be 1 ff 1 fg 1 sf 1, and 1 ind or maybe a 2nd sf seat depending on who runs.

#ElectoralCommission #Ireland #Mastodaoine

Happy to see a North Wexford / South Wicklow constituency being recommended by the Electoral Commission. Despite spanning a county line this would be a very homogeneous constituency.

#ElectoralCommission #Gorey #NorthWexford

One thing that’s always struck me about the GC movement is how their hatred of trans people becomes all encompassing. To the point where they’re happy to bring down an organisation they’ve devoted years of their life to because they can’t put aside their bigotry

#GreenParty #Tories #Labour #ElectoralCommission #Transphobia #TransRightsAreHumanRights

https://bylinetimes.com/2023/08/29/green-party-at-risk-of-going-bust-amid-trans-rights-row-legal-challenge-from-former-deputy-leader/

@fkamiah17

If that is the case how come #labour outspent the #conservatives quite substantially last year - according to the #electoralcommission ? Just asking!

#VoterSuppression #voterIDrequirements

I had thought - from earlier wording by the #electoralcommission that the new #voterIDrequirements did not apply in three parliamentary byelections in July. It seems I was wrong. This does not affect the analysis for #selbyandainsty and for #somertonandfrome very much. It does, however, have a profound impact on #uxbridgeandsouthruislip . So much so that I will need to revisit it. You have been warned!

Electoral Commission probing £600,000 Labour donation | openDemocracy
https://www.opendemocracy.net/en/labour-party-barnes-richmond-club-electoral-commission-unincorporated-association/

#ElectoralCommission
#Labour
#Donations
#Transparency

"Leaked electoral record data can result in serious electoral threats."

The hack of the UK #ElectoralCommission shows we need strong #dataprotection laws for the security of every person from criminals, but also the functioning of our democratic systems.

So why is the government looking to weaken data rights and make it easier for data to be shared by companies and government?

The #DPDIBill reveals a politics that acts in ignorance of the real risks to #cybersecurity.

https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2023/aug/09/hacked-uk-electoral-commission-data-target-voter-disinformation-warn-expert

“The theft of something precious to 40 million people would, in most circumstances, be cause for instant outrage. That appears not to have been the case when the scene of the crime was a database held by the UK Electoral Commission. The delay in detection and muted reaction are as alarming as the heist itself.”

#ElectoralCommission #Cybercrime #Hacking #Hackers

https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2023/aug/09/the-guardian-view-on-the-electoral-commission-hack-democracy-needs-stronger-safeguards

Now what a double disaster at IT security in Britain!
Since August 2021(!), the #ElectoralCommission, the #UK election watchdog had a serious data breach, leaking information including the name and address of anyone in the UK who registered to vote between 2014 and 2022: https://www.theregister.com/2023/08/08/uk_electoral_commission_hacked_voter/
And on top, #PSNI lost control over the data of all #NI #police officers, including those who had to shield their identities: https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2023/aug/09/police-officers-in-northern-ireland-may-leave-force-or-move-after-data-breach-psni

TechcrunchSecurity: Parsing the UK voter register cyberattack https://techcrunch.com/2023/08/09/parsing-uk-electoral-commission-cyberattack/ #ElectoralCommission #voterregistration #UKgovernment #cyberattack #databreach #Security

If the Information Commissioner's Office (UK) was aware of this breach from the Electoral Commission and chose to remain silent, then it speaks volume about their weaknesses and its failure to be perceived as a meaningful regulator.

If they weren't aware, the ICO needs to explain why the Electoral Commission didn't feel obliged to notify them of something this big.

#ElectoralCommission #cyberattack #DataBreach #ukpolitics

Emails, identifying information and home addresses of everyone on the electoral register have been at the mercy of cybercriminals.

This exposes everyone to a risk of fraud, identity theft and even of being targeted in their homes.

#ElectoralCommission #cyberattack #DataBreach #ukpolitics