Electronic Transactions Act · 2008 Revised Edition · Part XI · Government Use of Electronic Records and Signatures
47. Acceptance of electronic filing and issue of documents
Official textFrom Attorney General's Chambers, unchanged
Any department or ministry of the Government, organ of State or statutory body that, pursuant to any written law —
accepts the filing of documents, or requires that documents be created or retained;
issues any permit, licence or approval; or
provides for the method and manner of payment, may, notwithstanding anything to the contrary in such written law —
accept the filing of such documents, or the creation or retention of such documents in the form of electronic records;
issue such permit, licence or approval in the form of electronic records; or
make such payment in electronic form.
In any case where a department or ministry of the Government, organ of State or statutory body decides to perform any of the functions in subsections (1)(i), (ii) or (iii), it may specify —
Electronic Transactions 35 2008 Ed.
the manner and format in which such electronic records shall be filed, created, retained or issued;
where such electronic records have to be signed, the type of electronic signature required including, if applicable, a requirement that the sender use a digital signature or other secure electronic signature;
the manner and format in which such signature shall be affixed to the electronic record, and the identity of or criteria that shall be met by any certification authority used by the person filing the document;
control processes and procedures as appropriate to ensure adequate integrity, security and confidentiality of electronic records or payments; and
any other required attributes for electronic records or payments that are currently specified for corresponding paper documents.
Nothing in this Act shall by itself compel any department or ministry of the Government, organ of State or statutory body to accept or issue any document in the form of electronic records.
Terms defined in s 2
certification authority
Defined · s 2“certification authority” means a person who or an organisation that issues a certificate;
digital signature
Defined · s 2“digital signature” means an electronic signature consisting of a transformation of an electronic record using an asymmetric cryptosystem and a hash function such that a person having the initial untransformed electronic record and the signer’s public key can accurately determine — (a) whether the transformation was created using the private key that corresponds to the signer’s public key; and (b) whether the initial electronic record has been altered since the transformation was made;
electronic record
Defined · s 2“electronic record” means a record generated, communicated, received or stored by electronic, magnetic, optical or other means in an information system or for transmission from one information system to another;
electronic signature
Defined · s 2“electronic signature” means any letters, characters, numbers or other symbols in digital form attached to or logically associated with an electronic record, and executed or adopted with the intention of authenticating or approving the electronic record;
signature
Defined · s 2“signed” or “signature” includes any symbol executed or adopted, or any methodology or procedure employed or adopted, by a person with the intention of authenticating a record, including electronic or digital methods;
signed
Defined · s 2“signed” or “signature” includes any symbol executed or adopted, or any methodology or procedure employed or adopted, by a person with the intention of authenticating a record, including electronic or digital methods;
Part XII