Digital signatures law takes effect - Starting today, people planning to go online might want to think about bringing along some identification -- digital identification, that is. Thanks to a new federal law that takes effect today it's likely to become important to prove who you are on the Internet. The new law, which builds on a similar California law that took effect in January, grants electronic signatures the same binding legal status as their ink-drawn cousins. It makes it possible for businesses and individuals to sign enforceable contracts online simply by clicking a mouse. For businesses, the Electronic Signatures in Global and National Commerce Act has the potential to dramatically slash administrative costs and reduce fraud. For individuals, the law makes it more convenient to do things like buy an insurance policy or open a brokerage account on the Internet.
Legalized e-signatures bring convenience, risk - A new federal law taking effect Sunday gives e-signatures the same legal standing as their handwritten counterparts, a significant change that promises new opportunities and risks on the Internet. The Electronic Signatures in Global National Commerce Act, or E-Sign, as it is known, is designed to streamline commercial purchases of everything from stocks to houses. Complicated leases or house refinancing contracts, for example, can take days to finalize while the parties track each other down, waving pens for the other to sign on the dotted line. Replace the traditional arrangement with e-signatures and the process could be executed in minutes, according to e-commerce representatives that lobbied for the law.
Government moves to electronic transactions - The U.S. Department of the Treasury on Tuesday announced two electronic-transaction initiatives that put the Internet to greater use in the collection of and disbursement of payments. One of the initiatives, Pay.gov, managed by the FMS (Financial Management Service), will be launched in October at www.pay.gov. Treasury officials said at a news conference. Federal agencies will be able to link their own Web sites to Pay.gov, which will be supported by technology that will enable users to make payments to the government, including taxes, fees, licenses, and leases by credit card, electronic transfer or a number of other electronic methods.
US Electronic Signature Bill Heads for Vote - Compromise legislation giving electronic signatures and documents the same force in law as their paper counterparts will likely come to a vote in the House next Tuesday, House Commerce Committee Chairman Thomas Bliley said Friday. House and Senate negotiators arrived at a single version of the bill late on Thursday after making changes to the timing of some provisions and assuring that consumer consent provisions would not prove too onerous for businesses.
H. R. 1572 - To require the adoption and utilization of digital signatures by Federal agencies and to encourage the use of digital signatures in private sector electronic transactions.
Secure Electronic Commerce: Building the Infrastructure for Digital Signatures and Encryption (2nd Edition) - Public key infrastructure (PKI) design and functionality, including the legal principles behind binding electronic transactions and the details of authentication, encryption, non-repudiation, and key management. Certificates, Certificate Authorities (CAs), and means of managing trust relationships are all covered.