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1 (January 19, 2001)

handle is hein.crs/crsmthaaztz0001 and id is 1 raw text is: Order Code RS20344 Updated January 19, 2001 CRS Report for Congress Received through the CRS Web Electronic Signatures: Technology Developments and Legislative Issues Richard M. Nunno Analyst in Information Technologies Resources, Science, and Industry Division Summary Electronic signatures, a means of verifying the identity of the user of a computer system to control access or authorize a transaction, are increasingly being used in electronic commerce. Several technologies can be used to produce electronic signatures, the most prominent being digital signatures, which use cryptographic techniques to provide data integrity and nonrepudiation. Legislation enacted in the 106th Congress enables the legal recognition of electronic signatures in interstate commerce. Other legislation introduced but not enacted was intended to promote federal agency use of electronic signatures to enable electronic filing of information. Definitions and Technologies Used for Electronic Signatures. Electronic signatures are methods used to provide electronic authentication, a process of verifying the identity of users of a computer (either a stand-alone mainframe or a network or Internet-based system) in order to control access or authorize transactions. In many states and industry sectors, electronic signatures attached to electronic records (documents created, stored, generated, received, or communicated by electronic means) are legally recognized in the same manner as handwritten signatures on paper. Electronic signatures are used to establish identity in electronic commerce, and to control access to facilities or systems. Electronic signatures are either being implemented or planned for medical and financial records, and various government transactions. The following technologies are forms of electronic signatures at various levels (and are used in combination to provide added security): password or personal identification number (PIN)-a set of numbers or characters shared only by the system and the user, and usually encrypted if the authentication occurs over an open network (i.e., a network to which the public has access); smart card-a plastic card similar to a credit card, except that it contains a microprocessor (a chip) that can generate, store, and process data, and can be programmed to be activated only when the user enters a PIN or other identifier. Together with a reader device, smart cards are Congressional Research Service The Library of Congress

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