The Budget's Seal of Authenticity

When you read the Bush administration's just-released fiscal 2009 budget, the first-ever online budget, you'll see this seal on top of each PDF page:

The Government Printing Office developed this digital signature, called the "Seal of Authenticity." When visible "on an online PDF document," according to a GPO press release, the seal "serves the same purpose as handwritten signatures or traditional wax seals on printed documents. This signature assures the public that the document has not been changed or altered. A digital signature, viewed through the GPO Seal of Authenticity, verifies the document’s integrity and authenticity.

“It is important in today’s digital world to assure the public that their documents are authentic and have not been altered in any way,” said Public Printer Bob Tapella.

Interestingly, the PDF pages for the 2009 budget posted on the Office of Management and Budget's Web site do not have the Seal of Authenticity, or any digital signature that assures authenticity.