Slashdot Mirror
German Government Introduces Digital Signatures
bertvl writes: "From this
article on CNN: Germany's federal government is introducing electronic signatures for its employees, a step it hopes will help make the security procedure generally accepted in the country. More than 200,000 employees of ministries and agencies will be able to sign electronic documents using a chip card with an encrypted key, giving them the same legal weight as paper documents with a handwritten signature, the federal Cabinet said in a statement Thursday."
... is people. How many people are going to go for a dump, leaving their keycard on their desk? Practically everyone where I work wanders off at some point leaving their PC logged with their (Notes) mail running. This could lead to hours of fun. Similarly, passwords/phrases get shared, borrowed etc.
Unless you use biometrics (I don't generally leave my fingers on my desk when I go to lunch), the stupid-factor will always play a part. The legal status of digital signatures will only really be clarified when the first case comes to court with the defense: "someone else must have used my key".
(OT) Oh, and would people please learn to spell "definite". It's like "finite" with a "de" on the front (quickly checks for typos).
"Under the iron bridge, we fist" - The Smiths, Still Ill
Well, it is! They just don't build new ones, and the existing nuclear plants are being phased out.
If they don't the Christ Democrats which are ultra conservatives who think GW Bush's enviromental policies are to compromising will scrap the whole thing.
Come on. The Christ Democrats are conservative, and I hope they don't win, but comparing their environmental politics with those of GWB?? Environmental support has always been very strong in germany, even with the Christ Democrats.
Maybe, because you're the only one, who does it? I've lived all my live in Germany, and I've used a checque only once! I got the money instantly... Who needs checques?
Unfortunately you're right with this one. May very well happen. On a side note: In the moment the US is pushing european countries to introduce biometrical finger prints on the IDs, threatening to require visas for imigration again...
Very unlikely! Privacy concerns have been very strong in Germany, I could never imaginge the government to let corporations access a (hypothetical) genetic database!