The Election Commission of India has formally declined to release technical details regarding the software used to detect anomalies in electoral rolls during the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) exercise. In an official response dated October 16, the commission cited exemptions under the Right to Information (RTI) Act, stating that the requested information pertains to commercial confidence, trade secrets, and intellectual property rights.
The RTI application was filed on July 27 by M.A. Mujeeb Ayyub, a social activist based in Karimpur, Telangana. Ayyub had requested specific information regarding the software, algorithms, or artificial intelligence platforms utilized by the commission to identify inconsistencies in voter data. He further sought clarification on whether these systems automatically flagged records for deletion or correction and requested a detailed explanation of the workflow involved in such processes.
In its reply, the Election Commission maintained that no new software was specifically developed or procured for the SIR exercise. Regarding the decision-making process, the commission stated, "EROs decide on the inclusion/exclusion of an elector on the basis of facts and records." Furthermore, the commission dismissed Ayyub's inquiries into the use of machine learning or predictive analytics, noting that the request sought a clarification rather than information as defined under Section 2(f) of the RTI Act.
An official from the Election Commission noted that details concerning software and algorithms are generally not disclosed in response to RTI requests. This stance aligns with previous practices by electronic voting machine manufacturers, such as Bharat Electronics Ltd and the Electronics Corporation of India Ltd, which have historically withheld EVM source codes citing similar grounds.
