In an effort to protect the free right to vote and the integrity of the electoral process against growing cyber threats and disinformation, official cybersecurity measures have been implemented for the upcoming European elections on June 9. The meeting of the Coordination Network for Security in Electoral Processes, which took place on May 6 in Spain, involved the participation of various government agencies and security agencies.
Chaired by Fernando Grande-Marlaska, the Minister of the Interior, the meeting marked the activation of the Network that has been operational in every election since 2019, following the guidelines of the European Union. This year, the Network has placed special emphasis on four critical areas: the electoral process, the protection of personal data, physical and cybersecurity, and the fight against disinformation.
The protection of personal data will be overseen by the Spanish Data Protection Agency, which will face the challenge of repelling cyberattacks of various kinds. On the other hand, the security of the IT infrastructure will have the joint support of various agencies, including the computer emergency response teams of the Administration, the Cybersecurity Coordination Office, the National Cybersecurity Institute, and the National Cryptologic Center.
In addition, the Department of Homeland Security will lead efforts to counter disinformation campaigns, with the collaboration of the State Secretariat for Communication and the General Directorate of Communication, Public Diplomacy, and Networks of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, European Union, and Cooperation.
Grande-Marlaska highlighted the importance of being alert to threats that seek to undermine democracy and freedom, recalling that “there are many national and international actors who seek to interfere in our democracies and take advantage of any loophole to destroy the way of life in freedom that we have given ourselves.”
With these measures, the Coordination Network for Security in Electoral Processes seeks to ensure that electoral systems are not only secure but also resistant to external and internal manipulation attempts, thus ensuring a fair and transparent electoral process.