Czechia

[CZ] Electronic Signatures in Public Administration

IRIS 2002-2:1/27

Jan Fučík

Česká televize

After adopting the Electronic Signatures Act in June 2000, the Czech government has set out, in Resolution no. 304/2001, a number of conditions for the practical implementation of the Act.

The government is keen to make its electronic legal and business dealings legally binding in order to safeguard the protection of basic rights. According to the Resolution, the State administrative authorities are obliged to accept legal documents in electronic form. If registered electronic signatures are used in administrative procedures, signed electronic documents should be legally binding. The relevant workplaces will be equipped with the requisite technical precautions to facilitate all forms of electronic communication between the administration and its communication partners, in compliance with all technical standards.

Under the Act, the Office for the Protection of Personal Data is responsible for the certification of accredited certification service providers. It is also in charge of monitoring all providers of certificates for registered electronic signatures. The Office is also entitled to lay down terms and conditions regarding the activities of certification service providers and standards for drawing up and verifying registered electronic signatures. It carried out this task through Communiqué no.366/2001.


References

  • Czech Government Resolution no. 304/2001 concerning laws and decrees to implement the Electronic Signatures Act
  • Czech Government Resolution no. 304/2001 concerning laws and decrees to implement the Electronic Signatures Act

  • Communiqué no.366/2001 of the Office for the Protection of Personal Data concerning laws and decrees to implement the Electronic Signatures Act
  • Communiqué no.366/2001 of the Office for the Protection of Personal Data concerning laws and decrees to implement the Electronic Signatures Act

This article has been published in IRIS Legal Observations of the European Audiovisual Observatory.