Digital signature
A digital or electronic signature provides security and integrity
Types of signature
A digital signature or electronic signature is a digital version of a handwritten or wet signature and consists of digital data attached to a digital document. An electronic signature arranges assurance of the expression of will and identity of the signers and assurance that the signed document will not be altered again.
Three types of digital signatures
The Dutch law follows the European law (eIDAS) and has 3 types of electronic signatures:
- The ordinary digital signature
- The advanced digital signature
- The qualified digital signature
Ordinary electronic signature
A common, non-qualified electronic signature is a signature associated with other digital data, such as a document or an e-mail. This commonplace electronic signature serves to indicate the identity of the signer. Nevertheless, this variant of electronic signature possesses limited legal value since the actual identity of the signer cannot be verified. Moreover, this form of signature is extremely vulnerable to forgery, and subsequent modification of the content of the accompanying document is quite possible. An ordinary electronic signature includes, for example, a scanned handwritten signature or a signature created using a mouse (called a mouse signature).
Advanced electronic signature
The advanced electronic signature, under specific conditions, grants full legal validity to the documents to be signed. An important advantage of the advanced electronic signature compared to the qualified electronic signature is that it can be applied to most documents to be signed in a user-friendly manner, without compromising their legal validity. The sender of the document can not only sign digitally themselves, but can also have their clients digitally sign within the same system in a relatively simple manner, making the entire signing process effortlessly digital.
More on the advanced electronic signature.
Qualified electronic signature
The qualified digital or electronic signature is equivalent to the handwritten or wet signature. It therefore has the same legal value. The qualified electronic signature is created with a qualified personal PKI certificate. This signature is required for documents with significant legal consequences, such as notarial deeds, mortgage deeds, insurance policies and in some cases employment contracts. More about the qualified electronic signature.
Reliability of electronic signature
Legal validity says a lot about the reliability of electronic signatures. The advanced electronic signature and the qualified electronic signature can be considered reliable. With both types, you can assume that the signer is the one to sign (identity). And that the signed documents cannot be changed after signing (integrity). For the ordinary signature (for example, a mouse signature or a scanned image) this unfortunately does not apply. Therefore, it cannot be considered reliable.
Also see: The Central Government.
European use of digital signature
Since 23 July 2014, the European Regulation (EU) No 910/2014 has existed which relates to the use of digital signatures. This regulation ensures that in all EU countries the same legislation applies to electronic signatures and that all EU countries recognise each other's electronic signatures. It is each EU country is allowed its own additional legislation to apply. In the Netherlands it is the law on electronic signatures. Compare it with the international use of passports. Each country issues its own passport. And according to its own legislation. These passports are different for each country, but are accepted by each country because they comply with international agreements.
