Post Office branches sign up to distribution of e-signatures
Digital identities providing electronic signatures to every UK consumer
are set to be distributed through the Post Office branch network from
early next year. Industry observers believe the initiative, which follows a similar
scheme launched in Ireland last week, could boost consumer confidence
in e-commerce. The electronic signatures will be provided by Consignia’s e-commerce
subsidiary ViaCode. They will enable consumers to conduct secure online
transactions, carrying the same legal weight as their paper equivalent. “We’re aiming at April next year but are in discussions with the
Government, so it may come earlier,” said ViaCode head of marketing
Richard Taylor. “Having the Post Office network is important to educate
and boost consumer uptake.” Face-to-face user authentication will be used to ensure end-to-end
security for consumer certificates. Taylor said the scheme would also
involve an element of initial online authentication. Passports will probably be used to provide identification at Post
Office counters, replicating the scheme launched in Ireland last week
by PostTrust, the e-security division of the Irish Post Office, and
security vendor Arcot Systems. “Digital signatures need to be fit for purpose and have fairly rigorous
authentication,” said Taylor. The UK scheme was welcomed by e-tailers as a potential shot in the arm
for consumer confidence in e-commerce. Digital signatures also reduce e-
tailers’ exposure to risk by putting liability in the hands of the
signatory instead of merchants. “If the Post Office can take the lead in driving consumer confidence,
it will be what the industry really needs,” said Justin Skinner, Direct
Line e-commerce manager. “If the process is something that consumers
can buy into easily, it’s clearly a good thing.” GartnerG2 VP Graham Taylor also welcomed the scheme, but warned
marketing efforts would be needed to push the benefits to consumers:
“At the moment they don’t have an incentive. It needs a national
organisation to publicise it.” Last month the UK was revealed to have missed the deadline for
compliance with the EU’s Electronic Signatures Directive, raising fears
it could fall behind in European e-commerce (NMA 19 July). www.viacode.com Copyright: Centaur Communications Ltd. and licensors Page : 1NEW MEDIA AGE, 02nd August 2001
