How safe are digital signatures vs. handwritten signatures?
Nicholas Leeson forged handwritten signatures of his boss and caused the collapse of Barings Bank, the United Kingdom’s oldest investment bank. While both handwritten and digital signatures (standard electronic signatures) are legally-binding, only digital signatures ensure non-repudiation of documents. For example, any changes made to an electronically signed document are clearly indicated and will immediately invalidate the signature, thereby protecting against forgery.
Digital signature legislation & regulations In recent years, most countries worldwide have adopted legislation and regulations that recognize the legality of a digital signature (standard electronic signatures) and deem it a binding signature. And, regulations such as the FDA 21 CFR Part 11 for the Life Sciences industry have also recognized digital signatures as a replacement for handwritten signatures.
