Cryptography Reference
In-Depth Information
up and annotate the records. Similar to the tool found in off-the-shelf
“paint” computer programs, the cleanup tool provides for clipping a region
of the record, moving it around, rotating it, and erasing smudges and other
residue of the scanning process. Officers found it useful to move annota-
tions around in order to increase the visual legibility of records. The tool
provides standardized versions of the most often used annotations
—
the
IGREC lists more than fifty different core categories, with many variations.
After their fields are filled out, the annotations are visually positioned on
the page and merged
as images
with the existing image of the record.
In a second development phase, a third tool enabled the officers to gain
yet more time in producing copies and extracts. Although each such copy
and extract requires the officers to affix her seal, date, and signature, the
date and seal were not technically part of the officer's signature and could
just as well be integrated within the computer system itself. The SCEC thus
designed a digital seal composed of a text which read: “CERTIFIED COPY,
NANTES, [
date
], THE OFFICER OF CIVIL STATUS, [
[first name
,
last name
]”
along with the seal of the Republic. The only thing left for the officer to
manually inscribe was the handwritten signature itself.
The SCEC dreamt of a completely automated production process
—
from
online requesting of documents (first Minitel, then Internet) to computer-
ized production of electronic copies (mostly accomplished) and the sorting,
folding, and filling out of the envelopes to be sent out through an auto-
mated mail robot. The only remaining obstacle to the process was the need
for the handwritten signature of public officer. The IGREC was explicit: it
could be only manual: “Copies and extracts must be signed by the officer.
By signature, one must understand the handwritten apposition of the
officer's name on the act. It is this signature that confers to the act its
authentic character.”
38
Yet the temptation was great. Officers had already begun using the seal
tool and were thus getting gradually accustomed to affixing the validating
signs electronically. Integrating a scanned image of each officer's signature
into the seal tool would be a simple job, now that the required software
had been developed. In meetings with the SCEC, the Ministry of Justice
expressed deep reservations with regard to the legal validity of any such
electronic signature, arguing that the necessity for the officer to
manually
sign
authentic copies had been well established both by legislation and
case law.
