Prosecutors in Los Angeles say Konnech, a small company that makes software for scheduling election workers, has illegally given its contractors in China access to sensitive data as part of a “massive data breach. Now, amid the allegations, a number of localities across the U.S. are weighing whether to ditch Konnech’s software. Konnech has provided its PollChief software to some cities and counties across the country.
By giving contractors in China access to sensitive data on elections workers, Konnech has violated its contract — and criminal law. Konnech CEO Eugene Yu has been charged with conspiracy to embezzle public funds and grand theft by embezzlement of public funds. The criminal complaint says that the third-party contractors in China who were sent the workers’ data also “assisted with creating and fixing” Konnech’s software. A project manager for Konnech’s $2.9 million contract with LA County said that this presented a “huge security issue,” according to the complaint. Last week, Yu was arrested in his home state of Michigan, and prosecutors sought to extradite him to California to face the charges.
This is the same Konnech that Washoe County in Nevada uses. The takeaway? Make sure your state and city are using election software that can be trusted! Read the full story here >>>