Electronic Signatures and E-commerce Development

Paper Summary:

As more and more human activities can be undertaken on the internet, such as entertainment and commerce, the challenge is set now for governments and international institutions to ensure high levels of security for electronic communications, both private and commercial. Through the analysis of the technological background, the international legislative framework and sociological issues, the paper evaluates and highlights the main drawbacks and problems related with electronic communication. It identifies the structural, legislative and sociological reasons which prevent a generalized adoption of means of authentication and secure communication on-line, such as electronic signatures. The paper indicates solutions and guidelines to conduct electronic commerce and electronic communications to a broader diffusion and to build the average man's confidence in trading and interacting online.

Table of Contents:

Executive Summary
Overview
Findings
Electronic Signature - Technology, System and Law
From Hand-Written to Electronic Signature
Technology
Electronic Signatures
Key Based Systems
Digital Signature
System
Public Key Infrastructure
PKI in Practice
The Different Approaches
Law
UNCITRAL Model Laws
European Union
North America - USA and Canada
Australia, Japan and Singapore
Cross-Border Recognition
Confidence and Development
Structural Electronic Signature's Drawbacks in Comparison with the Hand-Written Signature
Legal Framework's Limits
Security Weaknesses and Risks with the Internet
Development
Conclusions

From the Paper:

"Apart from these evaluations, both signatures are mechanisms for secure information management and "symbols that signifies intent" , specifically the intention to authenticate a documents. Intent means that a security system must guarantee the non-repudiation of a message containing a declaration by assuring that the sender cannot later deny having sent that message. The application of this function in the electronic context presents the most problematic issues because of the unclear definition of the non-repudiation technical meaning . The uncertainty of this definition and the doubts about the limits of the binding capacity of a declaration electronically signed are probably one of the main reasons of the scarce confidence in using e-signatures to conclude on-line transaction."

More papers on Electronic Signatures and E-commerce Development:

• Essay # 73104 : "Electronic Signatures In Global And National Commerce Act"
• Analytical Essay # 131008 : "Electronic Money and Effects"
• Descriptive Essay # 132100 : "Citibank and E-business"

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