Paper and State - Burdens of Proof - page 150

The database's data model was closely mapped to the organization of a
single feuillet . To each section of the feuillet corresponds a base table: land
owners, land parcels, restrictions, mortgages. Although—in contrast to the
paper registers—it is now possible to query the database based on any and
all criteria, the two most important views remain the ownership history
of a given land parcel and the set of land parcels owned by a particular
individual. The individual registry offices now exist to provide public
points of access, and the central database is under the responsibility of the
GILFAM. Two copies of the database operate simultaneously, synchronized
at the end of each day: one, read-only, for consultation by authorized users;
the other for modification by land registry personnel.
The process of preparing an ordonnance d'inscription is considerably sim-
plified. Using web-based software, the data fields relative to individuals and
parcels are retrieved directly from the database, eliminating the need for
repeated retranscription of complex real estate information by users and
clerks alike. Judges perform the same verifications as before, using software
that provides them with a “before” and “after” view of the changes the
inscription will effect in the database. A region-wide public-key infrastruc-
ture links together the registry offices and the central database. After secur-
ing control of a private key through triple authentication procedures
(password, biometric, and hardware token), the judge may sign the ordon-
nance. There is no longer a need for its transcription into the register: at
the moment of signature, in a single step, the ordonnance is created as a
signed XML document stored in the database, and the relevant fields of
the database are updated.
As in the past, the ordonnance enjoys the evidential force of authenticity.
However, in contrast to the paper-based system, there are no longer inscrip-
tions to be signed by the judge, as these now consist of discrete data items
stored in various tables of the database. In the computerized system, the
presumption of trustworthiness that was previously granted to the inscrip-
tions must thus be inferred from other authentication procedures, includ-
ing role-based access privileges and the general soundness of the software
architecture. In addition, land registry systems designers have implemented
additional mechanisms to ensure the contents of the database remain
faithful to the signed ordonnance s, the procedural and legal origin of the
inscription process. At regular intervals, a software procedure traverses
sequentially all stored ordonnance s, verifies their digital signatures, and