File photo of EVMs being checked before polls

HYDERABAD: Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu's technology advisor Vemuru Hari Prasad’s proposal for Aadhaar authentication for voting has triggered resistance from data security experts. Hari Prasad however, is in the thick of the EVM controversy, after saying that using a ballot after Aadhaar authentication will help resolve the EVM issues. However, data security experts suggest that Aadhaar is already affected by leaks and it is being misused for voter profiling.

Hari Prasad tweeted on Tuesday, “Do we need such complicated EVMs that a common voter doesn’t understand? Give a thought. Use technology like Aadhaar and biometrics to authenticate voters and later use ballots. All booths can be put under camera surveillance to avoid booth capture.”

Hari Prasad had demo-nstrated how to hack EVMs in 2010 and had a EVM theft case booked against him. He has alleged that EVMs are not hacker proof and added that there is a change in the code due to which VVPATs show voter slips only for three seconds instead of seven. The ECI meanwhile has refused to speak to Hari Prasad.

Data Security research-er Srinivas Kodali who had exposed several Aadhaar leak cases told TOI, “Aadh-aar cannot be used because it has several issues. Biometrics are not reliable always. One should not port Aadhaar’s problems to our elections too.”

TDP’s Sevamitra application, developed by IT Girds Ltd, is already facing a data theft case after Aadhaar data of around 7.8 crore voters were allegedly found in its database.

