Channel One Russia has called on Group-IB to verify the vote results of “The Voice.Kids”

Channel One Russia has announced its decision to launch an investigation into the circumstances surrounding the final of the Russian edition of the show «The Voice.Kids». The channel has entrusted the task of verifying the vote results to Group-IB, an international company that specializes in prevention of cyberattacks and complex digital investigations.

Group-IB experts will hold an independent investigation during which they will assess the vote counting system’s information security. They will also perform a technical and forensic analysis of the calls made and text messages sent in search of potential vote manipulation, bot use, and other technological methods of unfair competition among participants.

Group-IB specialists will need to verify the integrity and security of the vote counting system, all event logs linked to the winner selection process, and whether it is possible to obtain unauthorised access to and modify data. Moreover, Group-IB will audit the results provided by the company «SMS-servisy», which—together with Channel One Russia—was in charge of the technical aspects of the voting during Season 6 of «The Voice.Kids».

We must determine whether it is technically possible to interfere with the system of voting for the winner of The Voice—that is, whether the partner company managing the calls and text messages or its employees are able to alter the vote results. Once we have determined this, we will be able to answer the question whether the system used is secure enough to guarantee that such a voting method is transparent and impartial. The second task will be to analyse the big data—that is, data relating to calls and text messages—in order to detect any anomalies, bot use, and other vote manipulation technologies.

Ilya Sachkov

CEO Group-IB

Group-IB specialists have already made steps in this direction. Details of the investigations and the methods and resources used by the experts are currently not being disclosed. The investigation results will be shared as an analytical report, which will be published in the public domain so that it can be cross-checked by third-party specialists.

Group-IB is an official partner of Interpol and Europol. The company also works with cyber police departments in various countries as part of joint investigations and operations to combat cyber, financial, and corporate crimes worldwide and bring their perpetrators to justice.