The Legal Force of Electronic Signatures: Why Are They More Reliable Than Pen-and-Paper Signatures?

In the digital age, where business processes are increasingly moving online, many still ponder a crucial question: How legally valid is an electronic signature? Wouldn't it be better to stick with traditional, pen-and-paper signatures? 

In reality, modern technologies and legislation make electronic signatures not just equivalent to their paper counterparts, but a much more secure and reliable instrument. Let's explore why in detail.

Identification: You Know Exactly Who's Signing 

Unfortunately, forging a physical signature isn't difficult, and its authenticity often requires expensive graphological expertise to confirm. 

Electronic signatures, however, practically reduce this risk to zero. 

• Identification: Electronic signatures require undeniable personal identification, often using an ID card and biometric data. 
• Cryptographic Protection: With the help of special encryption (cryptography) and digital certificates issued by trusted service providers, the signature is uniquely linked to a specific person, making its copying or falsification almost impossible. Official
• Time Stamp: This is a digital "seal" certified by an independent, trusted source that confirms the exact time and date of the signature (down to the second). 

When sending a document via the Signify platform, you can use additional authentication methods - by mobile number, video format, or qualified e-signature. Furthermore, we use GlobalSign TSA's time stamp to be able to prove, based on a third party, exactly when the document was signed at any given time.

Document Integrity: A Guarantee That Nothing Has Changed 

It's unfortunately possible to alter a physically signed document (for example, by deleting or adding a word or number) in a way that goes unnoticed at first glance. 

With an electronic document, this is impossible. 

• "Digital Seal": An electronic signature applies a kind of digital seal to the document. If even a single character in the document is changed, the signature automatically becomes invalid. This guarantees that you are seeing the exact version that was signed.
• Hashing: During the signing process, the document undergoes a "hashing" process, creating a unique digital fingerprint of it. This fingerprint becomes part of the signature. If the document is changed, its fingerprint will also change, immediately indicating manipulation.

Audit Trail: Every Action Is Recorded 

Imagine that a physical signature has an invisible witness recording everything. With an electronic signature, that's exactly what happens. 

Evidence Report (Audit Trail): platform store detailed information about the signing process: the exact time, date, signer's IP address, device used, and even geolocation. In case of a legal dispute, this data creates an incredibly strong evidentiary basis, something a physical signature simply doesn't have. 

Today, there are already instances where Signify's evidence report has been accepted as proof by a court.

Enhanced Confidentiality 

A physical document stored in a drawer can potentially fall into the wrong hands. A digital document, however, is protected by access control mechanisms, and only authorized individuals can view it. This provides an additional guarantee of your information's confidentiality.

International Recognition

Georgian legislation, as well as European Union (eIDAS) regulations and those of other developed countries, fully recognize the legal force of electronic signatures. This makes them reliable not only domestically but also for international transactions.

Conclusion

An electronic signature isn't merely an alternative to a physical one. It stands out due to significantly higher security standards, irrefutable evidence, and protection against manipulation. While a person can deny their physical signature, denying an electronic signature is practically impossible given its technological and legal nature. Conducting business in the digital world relies on security and trustworthiness - and electronic signatures ensure precisely these factors.