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Calida urges Comelec execs to be vigilant amid alleged Smartmatic breach
The Commission on Elections (Comelec) is reviewing its contract with Smartmatic Inc. following an alleged security breach on the service provider's system for the 2022 elections.
Comelec Chairperson Saidamen Balt Pangarungan has ordered a review of the contract and advised on the course of action as provided by law.
A Smartmatic employee allegedly involved in the security breach is in the custody of the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI), and the Comelec has requested reports from the NBI and Smartmatic.
The Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) is coordinating with the Comelec and NBI on the ongoing investigations.
Solicitor General Jose Calida has urged Comelec officials to be vigilant towards Smartmatic and expressed concern that the alleged security breach might threaten the integrity of the May 9 elections.
Calida also cited the Comelec's alleged act of barring witnesses during ballot printing and SD card configuration, and the lack of source code review by participants, as violations of election laws.
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The Commission on Elections (Comelec) met with Smartmatic officials on Thursday, March 31, to discuss an alleged data breach involving one of Smartmatic's employees.
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The camp of Vice President Leni Robredo is urging the Commission on Elections (Comelec) to investigate a claimed "security breach" in Smartmatic's election system servers.
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Smartmatic has denied allegations of a personal data breach, stating their contract is solely to provide the automated election system for the May 2022 polls and they are not involved in processing or storing voter personal data.
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Authorities are investigating whether other Smartmatic employees were involved in the alleged data breach, following the apprehension of one employee.
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The camp of Vice President Leni Robredo believes that Senator Imee Marcos leading a Senate probe into a supposed Smartmatic security breach is inappropriate, given her brother's presidential candidacy.
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