In this episode of Business Diplomacy Today, host Matthias Catón discusses the topic of online voting with Dr. Simone Ehrenberg-Silies, a senior consultant at the Institute for Technology and Innovation at VDI/VDE-IT. The conversation begins with a definition of online voting, differentiating it from traditional and electronic voting. The discussion delves into the reluctance of many countries to adopt online voting because of the risks of cyberattacks and manipulation, highlighting the vulnerability and potential loss of trust in the election process.

Simone notes that online voting offers some advantages, such as better accessibility, error-free vote counting, and convenience, particularly during situations like the pandemic. The conversation shifts to other applications beyond political elections, such as university elections and party leader selections. Despite the benefits, Simone repeatedly emphasizes the substantial risks, especially without the possibility of a verifiable recount in case of disputes. The discussion covers the technical intricacies of online voting systems, focusing on security, authentication, and the potential future risks posed by quantum computing.

About the guest

<figure class="alignright size-full is-resized"><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Dr. Simone Ehrenberg-Silies</figcaption></figure>

Dr. Simone Ehrenberg-Silies is a Senior Consultant at the Institute for Technology and Innovation at VDI/VDE-IT. A political scientist, she has been working in foresight and technology assessment for over a decade, mainly for public clients such as the German Federal Ministry of Labour and Social Affairs, the Office of Technology Assessment at the German Bundestag and the Deutsche Bundesbank.

Simone is passionate about working and publishing on topics such as the future of work, the future of payments, social, economic and political transformation, and geopolitical issues at the intersection of technology and innovation.

Executive Briefing – what you should read now

• E-Voting – alternative Wahlformen und ihre Absicherung (2023)





• Nino Haratischvili (2019): The Eighth Life (for Brilka)

Our Sponsor

This episode is sponsored and presented by the Indo-German Centre for Business Excellence.