A regional roundtable on digitization of the electoral process, cyber security and strengthening of inter-institutional cooperation in the fight against cyber threats held in Tirana
Tirana, 04.07.2023 - The two-day regional roundtable on Digitalization of Electoral Processes, Perspectives on Cybersecurity and Interinstitutional Coordination Across the Western Balkans started today in Tirana organized by the International Institute for Democracy and Electoral Assistance (International IDEA), the Central Election Commission of Albania and the Center for the Rule of Law of the University of Helsinki (Finland), and is also attended by dr. Suad Arnautović, president of the Central Election Commission of Bosnia and Herzegovina.
Dr. Arnautović presented experience of the Central Election Commission of Bosnia and Herzegovina in relation to digital threats and cyber-attacks. He pointed out examples of false reports about planted bombs that were delivered to the Central Election Commission of Bosnia and Herzegovina in May and June 2022 via e-mail from an unknown address, and whose aim was to prevent and hinder the implementation of established election activities, i.e. endangering the preparations of the electoral process in general. The Directorate for the Coordination of Police Bodies of Bosnia and Herzegovina has taken measures within its competence so that the Central Election Commission of Bosnia and Herzegovina can continue its work without interruption. Dr. Arnautović also spoke about cyber-attacks on the website of the Central Election Commission of Bosnia and Herzegovina, but also about the misuse of user accounts for the purpose of sending SPAM messages when 28,000 SPAM messages were recorded in just 24 hours.
Dr. Arnautović particularly emphasized the need for good inter-institutional cooperation between the Central Election Commission of BiH, the Intelligence and Security Agency of BiH, the Ministry of Security of BiH, the Ministry of Communications and Transport of BiH, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of BiH and other competent institutions. The responsibility, capability and expertise required to protect elections from digital threats does not lie solely with election management bodies.
The Central Electoral Commission of Albania, International IDEA and the Center for the Rule of Law of the University of Helsinki have initiated an exchange of experiences between the election management bodies and other relevant agencies in the Western Balkans, in order to jointly explore the experiences and best practices of inter-institutional cooperation in the digitization of electoral processes.
Dr. Arnautović had a very useful exchange of opinions and agreements on future cooperation with the presidents of the state election commissions of Georgia, Montenegro, Albania, Kosovo and North Macedonia.