Handwritten V Digital Signatures

Does the introduction of electronic signature put an end to handwritten signatures?

17:28 02 November 2016

The European Union has finally implemented new rules on electronic signatures, giving them the same legal weight as their written counterparts. The new European Identity and Trust Services (eIDAS) regulation, which was signed on 1 July 2016, makes paper works consistent across every EU country. 

 

Although the technology has been available for years, it is only adopted in the UK recently because “people are now starting to believe in it”, says Richard Croft, chief communications officer at software company Legalesign. 

 

It also helped that many technologies have been developed to effectively prove online identity and authenticate documents. 

 

"A [written] signature is simply weak evidence that somebody agreed to do something," says Jon Geater, chief technology officer at Thales e-security.

 

"It is not exactly unique or special, nor does it prove particularly well that a person was genuinely present or consenting."

 

Digital counterparts rely on consensus agreement to verify the signature to do away with this uncertainty. 

Ron Hirson, chief product officer at US-based tech firm DocuSign, agrees, saying: "The benefits of digital business are outweighing the nostalgia of the hand-written signature."