Part of our everyday life is certainly online communication. More and more work is done remotely, which is why the electronic signature is becoming an increasingly important component of digital business and communication. An electronic signature is a confirmation of authenticity because it ensures reliability and security in communication.
The Law on Electronic Signatures prescribes all the rules, and CONFIDA Croatia presents the most important ones below.
Definition
The definition of the term itself can be found in the Law on Electric Signature, and it reads:
- “Electronic signature in the sense of this Act is a set of data in electronic form that serves to identify the signatory and confirm the authenticity of the signed electronic record.”
There is also an advanced electronic signature which is:
- connected exclusively with the signatory,
- unequivocally identifies the signatory,
- is created through the use of means that the signatory can manage independently and which are exclusively under the control of the signatory,
- contains a direct connection with the data it refers to in a way that undoubtedly enables insight into any modification of the original data.
Such a signature has the same legal force and replaces a handwritten signature, for example when signing contracts with employees, signing management decisions, signing various documents, and the like.
Also, this Law states that the acceptance of a document cannot be refused just because it was created and issued in electronic form with an electronic or advanced electronic signature.
Faster and cheaper business
Considering the legal acceptance of an electronic signature for any administrative procedure and the connection to a certain document, the electronic signature has the same value as a handwritten signature. This brings with it faster and cheaper business and will be used more in the future than now.
Currently, there are certain restrictions on the application and attempts at abuse. Given that it is a digital environment, there are risks for abuse. However, the way electronic signatures are made today can be considered reliable.
