The establishment of the Cybersecurity Commission at the Estonian Academy of Sciences marks an important step forward. The commission's primary objective is the thorough investigation of security and trust models concerning critical e-state services.
In the upcoming years, the commission will prioritise the assessment of election technology. Estonia has previously undertaken significant research into the security analysis of election systems, with ongoing legislative amendments and regulatory measures related to electronic voting. In this context, the commission, led by Dan Bogdanov, an academician and Cybernetica's chief scientific officer, will consolidate scientific findings to provide expert insights to the government and offer clear explanations to the public.
The commission's strength lies in its diverse membership, comprising experts from various domains, such as social sciences, law, cryptography, information security, and government representation. Notably, the State Information Authority, the State Election Service, the Election Commission, and the Ministry of Economic and Communications Affairs have appointed their respective representatives to the commission.
During its inaugural meeting on August 14 in Tartu, the commission familiarised itself with the plans of the Ministry of Justice and the Ministry of Economy and Communications concerning election regulation enhancements. Additionally, the meeting touched upon scientific-technical models for assessing trust in IT systems.
Looking ahead, the commission is committed to transparently sharing its progress with the public, including organising seminars and presentations of its findings. "An upcoming conference on October 17 at the Academy of Sciences in Tallinn will feature the latest research results on trust in election systems, addressing both societal and technological aspects," said Bogdanov. "This initiative aims to facilitate informed discussions about e-state security that are both comprehensive and accessible to the general public."