What's New

12 February 2003

• Argentina: links added

• Chile: info on e-signature bill added

• Colombia: e-signature regulations and links added

• Costa Rica: draft law on digital signatures

• Croatia: use of digital certificates for internet financial transactions

• Denmark: use of digital signatures in the public sector

• Dominican Republic: law on digital signature enacted

• Ecuador: law on e-signatures enacted

• Germany: law on e-signatures in administrative procedures introduced

• Greece: link added

• Hong Kong: review of the electronic transactions ordinance

• Italy: regulation on electronic signatures approved

• Mexico: links added

• Netherlands: update on e-signature bill

• Netherlands Antilles: new entry

• New Zealand: electronic transactions act enacted

• Nicaragua: e-signature legislation under preperation

• Peru: e-signature legislation modified

• Poland: electronic signature act enforced

• Puerto Rico: digital signature act of 1998

• Romania: new entry

• South Africa: electronic communications transactions act enforced

• Spain: draft bill on electronic signatures introduced/act on information society services and e-commerce enacted/links & other info updated

• Texas: link updated

• Trinidad/Tobago: link added

• Uruguay: law on e-sigs in public administration/draft bill on e-signatures added

• Vietnam: regulations on e-signatures for e-payments issued

16 June 2002

• Chile: E-signatures Act enacted

• Indonesia: new entry

• South Africa: new entry

24 April 2002

Update

• United Kingdom: Electronic Signatures Regulations 2002 in force

16 April 2002

New entries

• Belarus: Law on e-signatures, e-sign standard

• Croatia: Law on e-signatures

• Taiwan: Law on e-signatures

• Trinidad & Tobago Republic: Bill on e-signatures

Updates

• Argentine: Digital signature law enacted

• Australia: ABN-DSC project on digital certificates

• Belgium: Link to e-sign law added

• Brazil: Info on Bill 3173/97 & Information Technology Act added

• EU: Link to e-sign documents added

• Germany: Links to relevant e-sign legislation added

• Greece: E-signature law adopted

• Hungary: Link to summary on e-sign legislation added

• India: Draft regulations on CAs approved

• Luxemburg: Regulations on e-sign enacted

• Malaysia: Bill amending 1997 Digital Signature Act presented to Parliament

• Mexico: Norma Oficial Mexicana in effect

• Panama: E-commerce Act enacted

• Philippines: Supreme Court decision on validity of e-documents, implementing rules on e-authentication

• Russian Federation: E-commerce draft law in Parliament

• Slovak Republic: E-sign Act approved

• South Korea: E-sign Act adopted

• Thailand: E-transaction & E-sign Act passed in Senate

• United States (All States): UETA (implementation) updated

• United States (Federal): Financial e-authentication report

October 2001

Bulgaria

• New entry:draft law on electronic documents and signatures

Brazil

• Rules & policies on CAs

Estonia

• Digital signature law enacted

Greece

• Act on e-signatures being drafted

New Zealand

• Electronic Transactions Bill before parliament

Poland

• two digital signature laws under discussion in parliament

Russian Federation

• New entry: miscellaneous

Tunesia

• New entry: Electronic exchanges and electronic commerce law enacted

May 2001

Argentina

• Link update

• Spanish website on digital signatures added

Australia

• Electronic Transactions Act commenced

• Progress of State and Territory implementation

• PKI in health sector introduced

Costa Rica

• New entry

• Draft e-sign legislation pending

Denmark

• Electronic Signature Act entered into force

Dominican Republic

• New entry

• Bill on electronic commerce and digital signatures pending

Finland

• Draft bill on electronic signatures

France

• E-signatures Act entered into force

• First decree on e-signatures published

Germany

• 2001 Digital Signature Act enforced

Hungary

• Draft e-signature law under debate in Parliament

Israel

• E-signature Act passed in parliament

Japan

• Electronic signature law enforced

Malaysia

• 1997 Digital Signature Act examined by government

Netherlands

• E-sign legislation pending in parliament

• Draft for a proposal on government e-communications

Norway

• Electronic signature act passed

Portugal

• New entry

• E-sign legislation adopted

United Kingdom

• Consultation on implementation e-sign directive

United States (federal)

• Digital signature may be used in health care transactions

• Federal rules implementing e-sign legislation introduced

Venezuela

• E-sign law enacted

January 2001

Australia

• Privacy PKI Guidelines announced

Columbia

• CA regulations adopted

EU

• Links updated

ILPF

• Analysis of e-sign implementation initiatives

• Expert report on digsigs

Switzerland

• Links updated

December 2000

Canada

• Links updated

European Union

• Commission Decision on criteria for determining whether a national body for assessment of secure signature devices should be designated

Hungary

• Electronic signature legislation delayed

New Zealand

• New entry: Electronic Transactions Bill

Norway

• overview of electronic authentication activities

Slovak Republic

• New entry: electronic signature legislation is being prepared

Sweden

• Electronic signature legislation adopted

November 2000 - Version 4.3

Canada

• Update on Model Law on E-Commerce implementations by provincial governments and the federal government

Chile

• New entry

• Bill on e-signatures under discussion

Hong Kong

• E-transactions Ordinance

Japan

• Bill on E-Commerce approved

Peru

• Links on e-signature legislation added

Philippines

• New entry

• Senate Bill on E-commerce enacted

• House Bill on E-commerce pending

Singapore

• New entry

• Links to Electronic Transactions Act 1998 and other regulations added

Spain

• Draft bill implementing EU Directive on E-Commerce released

Thailand

• E-Commerce and E-Signature Bills delayed

UNCITRAL

• Analysis of UNCITRAL Model Law by John D. Gregory (Request for Comments)

US (federal)

• FIDC Notice on ESIGN

October 2000 - Version 4.2

APEC

• Link Update

Austria

• Update on e-signature law

Brazil

• Bill on e-commerce being finalized

Canada

• Public hearing on e-commerce act

China

• New entry: CA centre established

Columbia

• Link update

France

• Decree on e-signatures

Hungary

• New entry: law on e-signatures proposed

India

• Government CA plans

Israel

• New entry: e-signature bill published

Netherlands

• E-signature bill under preperation

Panama

• New entry: information on e-commerce bill

Peru

• New entry: e-sign legislation adopted

Thailand

• E-commerce law revised

United Nations (UNCITRAL)

• Model Law on E-signatures adopted by e-commerce working group

United States [federal]

• E-sign bill into effect

June 2000 - Version 4.0

Czeck Republic

• Dig law adopted

Columbia

• Digsig law approved

Denmark

• New draft law on e-sigs

Ecuador

• New entry
• E-commerce legislation is drafted

EU

• Common position on e-commerce approved by EU parliament

Finland

• Draft law on e-sig
• Identity Cards Act in force
• Act on E-communications in court procedures added
• Act on e-Service in the administration in force

France 

• E-signature law adopted

India

• E-commerce bill introduced in parliament

Malta

• New entry
• E-commerce bill presented

Thailand

• E-signature act approved

Switzerland

• CA regulation adopted

United Kingdom

• E-communications Act in force

United States

• Federal e-signature legislation approved
• Delaware UETA draft released
• Maryland UCITA approved
• CFTC rule on e-signature

Venezuela

• New entry
• E-comemrce legislation is drafted

April 2000 - Version 3.9

Australia

• Update on E-signature legislation

Austria

• Update on E-signature legislation

Bermuda (new entry)

• Electronic transactions act enacted

ITU (new entry)

• Aiming for cross-border authentication model

Jersey (new entry)

• Draft Law on Electronic Communications

Russian Federation (new entry)

• E-signature legislation intended

United States

• Update on UETA and UCITA
• Update on H.R. 1714 an S. 761
• Update on Utah

Uncitral

• Update on draft uniform rules

February 2000 - Version 3.8

Japan

• Legislative framework for electronic authentication released

Luxemburg

• New draft law on e-signatures and on e-commerce expected

United Kingdom

• Trade secretary e-signs document
• Framework policy and guidelines for authenticating citizens and businesses to government
• FIPR  proposes amendments to Electronic Communications Bill.
• Interforum white paper on digital signatures

U.S.A -Federal

• H.R. 1714 approved

December 1999 -Version 3.7

European Union

• E-signatures Directive adopted
• E-commerce adopted by the EU Ministers

Hong Kong

• Electronic Transactions Bill

United Kingdom

• Electronic Communications Bill presented

United States

• HB1714 substituted
• S. 761 passed
• UETA and UCITA adopted by NCCUSL
• California adopts UETA

September 1999 - Version 3.6

ETSI

• New entry: Electronic Signature Standardisation

Argentina

• Draft Law on Digital Signatures
• Amendments to Civil Code

Australia

• Electronic Transactions Bill introduced

Austria

• Act on Digital Signatures passed in First Chamber

Brazil

• Draft law on digital signatures

Canada

• Land Titles Amendment Act 1999 introduced

France

• Law recognizing legal status of e-signatures apporved

Ireland

• Draft Electronic Commerce Act (Consultation Paper)

Spain

• Royal Decree on digital signatures passed

United Kingdom

• Proceedings of the Select Committee on Trade and Industry

United States

• Updates on Federal and States: Arkansas, Connecticut, Georgia, Iowa, Maryland, Ohio.
  

3 June 1999 - Version 3.5

European Union

• Link to Committee of Regions opinion on Draft E-sig directive added
• Opinion of the European Parliament on Draft E-sig directive

Finland

• Bill on electronic identification cards

Germany

• Government Position Paper on the International Recognition of Digital Signatures

19 May 1999 - Version 3.4

Italy

• Specification of the requirements for CAs under the Digital Signature Regulations

Luxemburg

• New draft law

United States

• Update on all of the States

27 April 1999 - Version 3.3

General

• Request for Participation on Digital Signature Research Project
• An Italian version of the Digital Signature Law Survey is launched by ERVET (translation by Claudia Cevenini)

United Nations

• United States dissatisfied with the approach of the Draft Uniform Rules on Electronic Signatures
• New entry on UN/ECE CEFACT - Draft model E-commerce Agreement

European Union

• Committee of Regions opinion on EU Draft E-signature Directive
• EU Ministers of Telecommunications agree on EU Draft E-signature Directive
• Article on the digital signature controversy in Europe and Germany (in German)

ILPF

• New entry
• Working on Digital Signatures Principles

Germany

• Article on the digital signature controversy in Europe and Germany (in German)

Italy

• The technical rules on digital signatures are published in the Italian Official Journal

Thailand

• Digital Signature Law is being drafted

United Kingdom

• DTI announces Consultation Paper on E-commerce

United States

• New Mexico Bill on Digital Signatures

25 February 1999 - version 3.2

New page added to the Digital Law Survey on Digital Signature Literature

New entry on India - Information Technology Act proposed

Update on EU - Response FIPR to E-sig Draft Directive
Update on Belgium - E-sig bill introduced
Update on Finland - prototype E-identification cards
Update on France - Conseil d'Etat report (Sept. 1998); upcoming digsig proposal
Update on Germany - (Digsig paragraph in social security legislation; working group in digsigs)

18 January 1999 - version 3.1

New entry on Brasil (Article on digital signatures)
New entry on Czech Republic (digital signature website)

Update on UNCITRAL (Link to US draft convention on electronic transactions added, other links updated)
Update on the European Union (Draft directive on electronic commerce)
Update on Argentina (Resolution on PKI)
Update on Australia (E-commerce bill; Joint Statement from Australia and the US on Electronic Commerce)
Update on Austria (draft digital signature directive)
Update on Canada (Personal Information Protection and Electronic Documents Act)
Update on Denmark (Article on digital signatures)
Update on Finland (National cryptography guidelines; pilots on electronic ID cards started)
Update on South Korea (Preparation of draft bills on electronic commerce)
Update on United Kingdom (Microsoft statement concerning DTI proposals)
Update on US federal (Link to US draft convention on electronic transactions added; US e-commerce policy website; Joint Statement from Australia and the US on Electronic Commerce)
Update on US states (Arkansas, California, Minnesota, Ohio, Pennsylvania)

12 October 1998 - version 3.0

New entry on Estonia
New entry on Norway
New entry on Spain
New entry on Thailand
Update on Denmark (Draft Bill on Digital Signatures released)
Update on Finland (Point of view on digital signatures)
Update on France (national CA established)
Update on Germany (National root CA established; First electronic notary public)
Update on Ireland (Irish-US Electronic commerce statement digitally signed)
Update on Italy (Draft technical rules released)
Update on the Netherlands (First digital notary public establisehd)
Update on United Kingdom (Draft TTP legislation discussed in October)
Update on United States (amendment to Government Paper Elimination Bill; US favors global convention; Irish-US Electronic commerce statement digitally signed; California; Minnesota)

31 August 1998 - version 2.9

Update on EU (German Consumer Association Commentary on Draft Digital Signature Directive, German Government Commentary on the Draft Digital Signature Directive)
Update on Canada (Policy document on cryptography & electronic commerce)
New entry on France (Consultation Paper on French PKI)
Update on Germany (Excerpts from Draft Technical Catalogues, Announcement of Companies to Perform Technical Certifications under Digital Signature Law, German Government Position Paper on International Recognition of Digital Signatures)
Update on Ireland (Policy Framework on Cryptography and Electronic Signatures published)
Update on Italy (new links)
Update on Japan (CA guidelines & Cross Certification Guidelines released)
Update on Singapore (Electronic Transactions Act passed)
Update on United States:

• (1) Federal (Government Paperwork Elimination Act; Computer Security Enhancement Act of 1997; Internal Revenue Service Restructuring and Reform Act of 1998; Internal Revenue Service starts digital signature pilot)
• (2) U.S. States (Delaware, Minnesota, Missouri, Ohio, Washington, Wisconsin, West Virginia) 
• (3) Miscellaneous: ABA becomes CA for Financial Services Industry.

30 June 1998 - version 2.8

Update on the European Union (new link to draft electronic signatures directive)
Update on Canada (first digitally signed interstate contract)
Update on Singapore (Electronic Transactions Bill 1998; first digitally signed interstate contract)
Update on the US States (New Jersey, North Carolina, Oregon, Pennsylvania)

1 June 1998 - version 2.7

Update on UNCITRAL (Documents of April 1998, Links updated)
Update on European Commission (Proposal for a Directive on Electronic Signatures is published)
Update on Argentina (Decree on the use of electronic signatures by public administration enacted)
Update on Canada (Consultation Paper On Facilitating Electronic Commerce)
Update on Italy (Link to English version of Italian regulations)
Update on Japan (Report on a legal framework for electronic commerce adopted)
Update on the Netherlands (New links)
Update on US States (California, Florida, Missouri, New Hampshire, Vermont)
New entry on Luxemburg (Digital Signature Law being prepared)

19 May 1998 - version 2.6

New entry on Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation (PKA Task Group preliminary report)
Update on Germany (first private CAs under the Signaturgesetz to be established in 1998)
Update on Malaysia (Link to the Malaysia Digital Signature Act updated)
Update on Australia (Gatekeeper project report on public key technology use is published)
Update on UK (electronic commerce policy annoucement, summary of responses to Consultation Paper of 1997)
Update on Sweden (report on Swedish cryptographic policy of 1997)

9 April 1998 - version 2.5

Update on the European Union (SOG-IS opinion on EU Draft Directive; Info on Copenhagen Hearing on Digital Signatures and Encryption is available)
Update on the US (update of links to State legislation)
New entry on Australia (Report on Electronic Commerce)
New entry on Colombia (Draft legislation on Electronic Commerce)
New entry on Singapore (Legislation on Electronic Authentication is drafted)

2 April 1998 - version 2.4

Update on the UNCITRAL (Draft Uniform Rules on Electronic Signatures)
Update on the European Union (Draft Directive on Electronic Signatures)
Update on Denmark (New links)
Update on Finland (Study on digital signatures is published)
Update on Italy (New links)
Update on Sweden (Report on Digital Signatures published)
Update on the United States (State and Federal legislative developments updated)
New entry on Argentina (Subcommittee on Cryptography and Digital Signatures; Resolution on digital signatures use by public administration)
New entry on the Netherlands (National Action Plan TTPs)
New entry on Mexico (Studying digital signatures)

17 February 1998 - version 2.3

Update on the European Commission
Update on the United States (New (proposed) legislation, Internet Law & Policy Forum, DigSig articles)
Update on the United Kingdom (BT/VeriSign CA)
New entry on Denmark (Digital Signature articles)
New entry on Switzerland (Swisskey)

22 January 1998 - version 2.2

Update on Italy (Digital Document Regualtions adopted)

6 January 1998 - version 2.1

Update on Malaysia (mTRUST)
Update on the US

27 November 1997 - version 2.0

New entry on Finland (Digital signature legislation planned; electronic ID cards)
New entry on Austria (Digital signatures under discussion)
New entry on ICC (Guidec)
Update on the European Union (New Commission Communication; LAB meeting)
Update on Germany (Multimedia Law Server)
Update on the US

11 November 1997 - version 1.9

Update on Germany (Digital Signature Ordinance entered into force on 1 November 1997)

18 September 1997 - version 1.8

New entry on Belgium (Draft law on digital signatures expected)
Update on United States (ABA Digital Signature Guidelines on-line available)

25 August 1997 - version 1.7

New entry on Sweden (Report on Electronic Document Handling)

29 July 1997 - version 1.6

New entry on Canada (electronic commerce secretariat, Government of Canada PKI)
New entry on OECD (Crypto policy guidelines)
New entry on Italy (digitil signature legislation)
Update on US States
Update on European Union (ETS-II, Infosec, LAB)

23 July 1997 - version 1.5

New entry on Japan (Certification Authority Guidelines).
Update on US States (California, Minnesota, Nevada) and plans to revise the DSS.
Update on Germany: Digital Signature Act approved by German Parliament

22 April 1997 - version 1.4

New entry on United Kingdom (consultation paper on licensing of TTPs). URL added to UNCITRAL.

17 April 1997 - version 1.3

New entries on UNCITRAL, Malaysia, and South Korea.
Germany: provisions on digital signature removed from draft law.
US: NCCUSL; no federal legislation in near future.

17 March 1997 - version 1.2

URLs added to Germany and US.

19 February 1997 - version 1.1

URLs added to Germany and US.

18 February 1997 - version 1.0

Launch of the Website.