Do the regulations on electronic signatures facilitate international electronic commerce? A critical review

Abstract

This paper critically reviews the regulations on electronic signatures (e-signatures) around the world and examines their possible impact on the development of international electronic commerce (e-commerce). Do they facilitate the development of e-commerce as expected? If not, why? This paper will consider this issue from an international and comparative perspective, and particularly looks at four jurisdictions – the US, the UK, Germany and China. It argues that the landscape of e-signatures regulations is divergent and fragmentary, which, to some extent, impedes the flow of international e-commerce. More effort is needed to achieve a harmonised and coherent regulatory framework.