E-envoy forges ahead with e-signatures

Pinder strives to get Government online by 2005

E-envoy Andrew Pinder is in the uncomfortable position of having to take the lead with electronic authentication and pushing its development if he is to get the UK Government online by 2005.

The take-up of digital signatures has been slower than anticipated, even though they are set to play a crucial role in secure government transactions and the development of ecommerce.

The Government is waiting for a report on privacy and data sharing by the Performance and Innovation Unit of the Cabinet Office, originally due in Spring 2001.

Last week, Pinder decided he could not wait for the report and announced plans to establish a policy for digital signatures and examine the future of the smart card in the UK.

New policy working groups have been set up to produce public consultation papers on the subject by the end of this year. After a consultation period of three months, Pinder's plan is to produce results by early 2002.

"Digital signatures are fundamental to the development of trust in ecommerce and e-government but, for a variety of reasons, they are not yet in widespread use," he said. "The working groups will address the barriers to widen take-up and consider how the technology should best be used to enhance online privacy."

E-envoy officials have ruled out the possibility of issuing an ID card or a single government smart card.