Editing Electronic signature (section)

=== Enforceability ===
In 1996 the [[United Nations]] published the UNCITRAL Model Law on Electronic Commerce.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.uncitral.org/pdf/english/texts/electcom/05-89450_Ebook.pdf |title=UNCITRAL : Model Law on Electronic Commerce with Guide to Enactment 1996 with additional article 5 ''bis'' as adopted in 1998 |date=1999 |publisher=UNCITRAL |access-date=2015-03-06 |archive-date=2012-09-12 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120912143439/http://www.uncitral.org/pdf/english/texts/electcom/05-89450_Ebook.pdf |url-status=dead }}</ref> Article 7 of the UNCITRAL Model Law on Electronic Commerce was highly influential in the development of electronic signature laws around the world, including in the US.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.unidroit.org/english/publications/review/articles/2000-4-gabriel-e.pdf|title=The New United States Uniform Electronic Transactions Act: Substantive Provisions, Drafting History and Comparison to the UNCITRAL Model Law on Electronic Commerce|last1=Gabriel|first1=Henry|publisher=International Institute for the Unification of Private Law |access-date=30 April 2011|archive-date=September 29, 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110929055237/http://www.unidroit.org/english/publications/review/articles/2000-4-gabriel-e.pdf|url-status=live}}</ref> In 2001, UNCITRAL concluded work on a dedicated text, the UNCITRAL Model Law on Electronic Signatures,<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.uncitral.org/pdf/english/texts/electcom/ml-elecsig-e.pdf |title=UNCITRAL : Model Law on Electronic Signatures with Guide to Enactment 2001 |publisher=UNCITRAL |date=2002 |access-date=2015-03-06 |archive-date=2012-08-02 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120802172559/http://www.uncitral.org/pdf/english/texts/electcom/ml-elecsig-e.pdf |url-status=dead }}</ref> which has been adopted in some 30 jurisdictions.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.uncitral.org/uncitral/en/uncitral_texts/electronic_commerce/2001Model_status.html |title=Status - UNCITRAL Model Law on Electronic Signatures (2001) |publisher=UNCITRAL |access-date=2015-03-06 |archive-date=February 22, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140222040526/http://www.uncitral.org/uncitral/en/uncitral_texts/electronic_commerce/2001Model_status.html |url-status=dead }}</ref> Article 9, paragraph 3 of the [[United Nations Convention on the Use of Electronic Communications in International Contracts]], 2005, which establishes a mechanism for functional equivalence between electronic and handwritten signatures at the international level as well as for the cross-border recognition. The latest UNCITRAL text dealing with electronic signatures is article 16 of the UNCITRAL Model Law on the Use and Cross-border Recognition of Identity Management and Trust Services (2022).

Canadian law ([[Personal Information Protection and Electronic Documents Act|PIPEDA]]) attempts to clarify the situation by first defining a generic electronic signature as "a signature that consists of one or more letters, characters, numbers or other symbols in digital form incorporated in, attached to or associated with an electronic document," then defining a secure electronic signature as an electronic signature with specific properties. PIPEDA's secure electronic signature regulations refine the definition as being a digital signature applied and verified in a specific manner.<ref>[http://laws.justice.gc.ca/en/showtdm/cr/SOR-2005-30//?showtoc=&instrumentnumber=SOR-2005-30] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110605050917/http://laws.justice.gc.ca/en/showtdm/cr/SOR-2005-30//?showtoc=&instrumentnumber=SOR-2005-30|date=June 5, 2011}}</ref>

In the [[European Union]], EU [[Regulation (European Union)|Regulation]] No 910/2014 on electronic identification and trust services for electronic transactions in the European [[European Single Market|internal market]] ([[eIDAS]]) sets the legal frame for electronic signatures. It repeals [[Directive (European Union)|Directive]] 1999/93/EC.<ref name="eIDAS_Reference" /> The current and applicable version of eIDAS was published by the [[European Parliament]] and the [[European Council]] on July 23, 2014. Following Article 25 (1) of the eIDAS regulation, an [[advanced electronic signature]] shall “not be denied legal effect and admissibility as evidence in legal proceedings". However it will reach a higher [[Relevance (law)|probative value]] when enhanced to the level of a [[qualified electronic signature]]. By requiring the use of a [[Secure signature creation device|qualified electronic signature creation device]]<ref>eIDAS regulation Article 3 (12)</ref> and being based on a certificate that has been issued by a qualified trust service provider, the upgraded advanced signature then carries according to Article 25 (2) of the eIDAS Regulation the same legal value as a handwritten signature.<ref name="eIDAS_Reference" /><ref name="Turner-AdvancedESig">{{cite web|last1=Turner|first1=Dawn M.|title=Advanced Electronic Signatures for eIDAS|url=http://www.cryptomathic.com/news-events/blog/advanced-electronic-signatures|publisher=Cryptomathic|access-date=7 June 2016|archive-date=June 30, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160630080430/http://www.cryptomathic.com/news-events/blog/advanced-electronic-signatures|url-status=live}}</ref> However, this is only regulated in the European Union and similarly through [[ZertES]] in [[Switzerland]]. A qualified electronic signature is not defined in the United States.<ref name="TurnerDSS">{{cite web|last1=Tuner|first1=Dawn M.|title=Is the NIST Digital Signature Standard DSS legally binding?|url=http://www.cryptomathic.com/news-events/blog/is-the-nist-digital-signature-standard-dss-legally-binding|publisher=Cryptomathic|access-date=12 May 2016|archive-date=June 30, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160630053820/http://www.cryptomathic.com/news-events/blog/is-the-nist-digital-signature-standard-dss-legally-binding|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="DSS-Ref">{{cite web|last1=Information Technology Laboratory National Institute of Standards and Technology|title=FEDERAL INFORMATION PROCESSING STANDARDS PUBLICATION (FIPS PUB 186 -4): Digital Signature Standard (DSS)|url=http://nvlpubs.nist.gov/nistpubs/FIPS/NIST.FIPS.186-4.pdf|access-date=12 May 2016|archive-date=December 27, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161227093019/http://nvlpubs.nist.gov/nistpubs/FIPS/NIST.FIPS.186-4.pdf|url-status=live}}</ref>

The U.S. Code defines an electronic signature for the purpose of US law as "an electronic sound, symbol, or process, attached to or logically associated with a contract or other record and executed or adopted by a person with the intent to sign the record."<ref name="US ESIGN Act of 2000">{{cite web |url=http://frwebgate.access.gpo.gov/cgi-bin/getdoc.cgi?dbname=106_cong_public_laws&docid=f:publ229.106.pdf |title=Public Law 106-229 : June 30, 2000 : Electronic Signatures in Global and National Commerce act |publisher=Frwebgate.access.gpo.gov |access-date=2015-03-06 |archive-date=May 22, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110522212411/http://frwebgate.access.gpo.gov/cgi-bin/getdoc.cgi?dbname=106_cong_public_laws&docid=f:publ229.106.pdf |url-status=live }}</ref> It may be an electronic transmission of the document which contains the signature, as in the case of [[facsimile]] transmissions, or it may be encoded message, such as [[telegraphy]] using [[Morse code]].

In the United States, the definition of what qualifies as an electronic signature is wide and is set out in the [[Uniform Electronic Transactions Act]] ("UETA") released by the National Conference of Commissioners on Uniform State Laws (NCCUSL) in 1999.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.law.upenn.edu/bll/ulc/fnact99/1990s/ueta99.htm |title=Biddle Law Library: Library: • Penn Law |publisher=Law.upenn.edu |access-date=2015-03-06 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140814230534/https://www.law.upenn.edu/bll/ulc/fnact99/1990s/ueta99.htm |archive-date=2014-08-14 |url-status=dead }}</ref> It was influenced by [[American Bar Association|ABA]] committee white papers and the uniform law promulgated by NCCUSL. Under UETA, the term means "an electronic sound, symbol, or process, attached to or logically associated with a record and executed or adopted by a person with the intent to sign the record." This definition and many other core concepts of UETA are echoed in the U.S. [[Electronic Signatures in Global and National Commerce Act|ESign Act]] of 2000.<ref name="US ESIGN Act of 2000"/> 48 US states, the District of Columbia, and the US Virgin Islands have enacted UETA.<ref name="nccusl.org">[http://www.nccusl.org/Update/uniformact_factsheets/uniformacts-fs-ueta.asp]  {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110115172742/http://www.nccusl.org/Update/uniformact_factsheets/uniformacts-fs-ueta.asp|date=January 15, 2011}}</ref> Only New York and Illinois have not enacted UETA,<ref name="nccusl.org"/> but each of those states has adopted its own electronic signatures statute.<ref>[http://www.cio.ny.gov/Policy/ESRA/esra.htm] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110506185818/http://www.cio.ny.gov/Policy/ESRA/esra.htm|date=May 6, 2011}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://apps.leg.wa.gov/RCW/default.aspx?cite=19.34 |title=Chapter 19.34 RCW: WASHINGTON ELECTRONIC AUTHENTICATION ACT |publisher=Apps.leg.wa.gov |access-date=2015-03-06 |archive-date=February 28, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150228123121/http://apps.leg.wa.gov/rcw/default.aspx?cite=19.34 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.ilga.gov/legislation/ilcs/ilcs3.asp?ActID=89&ChapterID=2 |title=5 ILCS 175/ Electronic Commerce Security Act |publisher=Ilga.gov |date=2003-10-17 |access-date=2015-03-06 |archive-date=October 26, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111026053719/http://www.ilga.gov/legislation/ilcs/ilcs3.asp?ActID=89&ChapterID=2 |url-status=live }}</ref> As of June 11, 2020, Washington State Office of CIO adopted UETA.<ref>{{Cite web |date=1 April 2016 |title=Electronic Signature Guidelines |url=https://ocio.wa.gov/policy/electronic-signature-guidelines |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230131014833/https://ocio.wa.gov/policy/electronic-signature-guidelines |archive-date=31 January 2023 |access-date=6 February 2023 |publisher=Washington State Office of the Chief Information Officer}}</ref>

In Australia, an electronic signature is recognised as "not necessarily the writing in of a name, but maybe any mark which identifies it as the act of the party.”<ref>{{cite AustLII|litigants=Legal Services Board v Forster|court=VSC|num=102|year=2010|pinpoint=para. 41|date=April 13, 2010|courtname=[[Supreme Court of Victoria|SC]]|juris=Vic}}</ref> Under the Electronic Transactions Acts in each Federal, State and Territory jurisdiction, an electronic signature may be considered enforceable if (a) there was a method used to identify the person and to indicate that person’s intention in respect of the information communicated and the method was either: (i) as reliable as appropriate for the purpose for which the electronic communication was generated or communicated, in light of all the circumstances, including the relevant agreement; or (ii) proven in fact to have fulfilled the functions above by itself or together with further evidence and the person to whom the signature is required to be given consents to that method.<ref>{{Cite web|last=AG|title=Electronic Transactions Act 1999|url=http://www.legislation.gov.au/Details/C2011C00445/Html/Text|access-date=2021-06-02|website=www.legislation.gov.au|language=en|archive-date=June 3, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210603092606/https://www.legislation.gov.au/Details/C2011C00445/Html/Text|url-status=live}}</ref>