E-Sign Act validates digital signatures
The first GSA digital certificate seals President Clinton's signature, passing ESign Act into law
President Clinton on Friday signed the Electronic Signatures in Global and
National Commerce Act, or E-Sign, using the first digital certificate from
the General Services Administration.
Under the act, online and electronic contracts signed in the private sector
with an electronic signature will have the same legal force as paper contract.
Agencies already are using electronic signatures under the authority of
the Government Paperwork Elimination Act of 1999.
The certificate used by Clinton is the first operational certificate issued
on the GSA Access Certificates for Electronic Services contract. That contract
is intended to provide a governmentwide vehicle for agencies to use and
implement digital certificates for their online services.
"The electronic signature capability demonstrated here today is a critical
component in realizing our e-government goals," said GSA Administrator David
Barram on Friday.
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