Today, 22 December 2008, ANC has launched for public consultation the draft decision on the mechanism of checking electronic signatures and the draft decision on the procedure of agreeing the bodies that certify the secured devices for generating electronic signature.
Taking into consideration the importance of the services based on electronic signature, ANC proposes the adoption of certain decisions that should lay down the principles and the minimum security requirements for the electronic signature checking mechanism and the procedure of agreeing the bodies that certify the secured devices for generating electronic signature.
Electronic signature checking is performed automatically, by means of special devices that use the safety elements of an electronic signature (encrypting keys or codes). The checking operation verifies the use of a certain digital certificate in the process of generating an electronic signature, a certificate which attests that the safety elements of an electronic signature (public key) have been correlated with a certain person (holding the private key), confirming the identity of the respective person.
The electronic signature checking services are provided automatically, by Internet, being specified in the contract concluded between each electronic signature provider and its users.
The secured devices for generating electronic signatures are certified by the specialised bodies – legal public or private persons – based on an ANC decision on agreeing these bodies. The secured generating devices enable the users to protect their electronic signature generation data against unauthorised use, making the respective signature forge-proof.
A certifying body looking for agreement must send ANC a written request therefor; the Authority will check compliance with the required conditions and issue a certification decision within 30 days from the beginning of the procedure.
The draft decisions are available on the ANC website. The interested persons are invited to send their comments and suggestions, to the ANC headquarters (2 Delea Noua Street, sector 3, Bucharest) or directly to the ANC registration office, as well as to its territorial branches in the closest county capital city, not later than 30.01.2009. Comments may be sent, as well, by fax, to +40 21 307 54 02, or by e-mail to consultare@anrcti.ro.