All,

  The EU approved a Digital signature framework (PKI Baised) as
means of identification.
See: http://www.computerworld.com/home/news.nsf/CWFlash/9904224digsig

 Excerpt:

 (Online News, 04/22/99 05:01 PM)
      EU approves digital signature
      framework
       By Elizabeth de Bony


                       BRUSSELS -- European telecommunications ministers
                       meeting in Luxembourg today approved legislation 
                       that is expected to be key in establishing a
legal
                       framework for electronic signatures and promoting 
                       the development of electronic commerce in the 
                       European Union.

                       The directive approved today requires all EU
                       countries to introduce legislation that
recognizes 
                       digital signatures as the legal equivalent to 
                       hand signatures, provided they have been
certified 
                       by a third party and the technology used to
                       make them respects a series of conditions.

                       The directive was designed to promote consumer
                       confidence in electronic transactions by
                       providing them with guarantees regarding the 
                       authenticity of the data.

                       Although digital signatures based on public-key
                       cryptography are currently the most recognized
                       form of electronic signatures, the directive 
                       -- to take into account the rapid technological 
                       development and the global character of the 
                       Internet -- doesn't specify that a particular
                       technology must be used as a means of fulfilling
                       its requirements.

                       The directive requires that a digital signature
                       is uniquely linked to the signatory, is capable
of
                       identifying the signatory and is linked to the 
                       data in such a way as to ensure that any
                       subsequent change in the data would be
detectable.



 Regards,
--
Jeffrey A. Williams
CEO/DIR. Internet Network Eng/SR. Java/CORBA Development Eng.
Information Network Eng. Group. INEG. INC.
E-Mail [EMAIL PROTECTED]
Contact Number:  972-447-1894
Address: 5 East Kirkwood Blvd. Grapevine Texas 75208

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