Protecting Election Researchers Globally
Advocates for expanding legal safe harbor protections for election security researchers globally, drawing on lessons from research barriers in Nigeria.
Summary
Legal Risks for Global Election Security Researchers
While election security researchers in the United States operate under established vulnerability disclosure frameworks and DMCA exemptions, researchers in the Global South face severe criminalization and political retaliation.
Case Study: Biometric Election Systems in Nigeria
Miracle Owolabi examines legal restrictions and cybercrime statutes in Nigeria that prevented independent researchers from auditing vulnerable biometric voter authentication systems.
Expanding Safe Harbor Protections Internationally
Drawing parallels to landmark US initiatives like California's Top-to-Bottom Review (TTBR), Owolabi argues that international legal safe harbors must protect good-faith election research to safeguard emerging democracies.
Building an Inclusive Global Election Defense Community
Fostering international collaboration between election security researchers strengthens democratic institutions and addresses vulnerabilities in commercially exported voting technologies.
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