Raiders of Online Trust

 

 

EUROPEAN COMISSION

Task force legislation Team (eIDAS)

“Boosting online trust and convenience: the business view”. 23 Abril 2015.

eTrust services: key tools for Digital Single market
ETS or etrust services in terms of the new eIDAS regulation include electronic signatures, electronic seals, registered electronic delivery services or delivery services, time stamps and authentication certificates for web pages. Under this heading, the EU focused on electronic trust services and summoned representatives of the insurance industry, the financial sector – particularly consumer loans -, postal services, and providers of e-trust services.

Achievement: Maximum consensus on the qualities trusted services need to have
Despite the disparity of criteria among those summoned to speak, there is an overwhelmingly agreement on what fundamental qualities trust services must meet, and this is the great achievement and consensus of the Commission:

1. Convenience and Usability, so the user experience is essential. We will need to keep a close eye on what users comment after using the services. Usability is built based on user experience, rather than on the provider company.
Usability has a twofold component: on the one hand, it has to be easy and simple to use to both digital natives and digital immigrants; on the other, the service has to be useful (convenience), the user has to see the benefits and the need to use the service. Usability also encompasses the trustworthiness the service is able to generate in the user.

2. Price, with regard to the usefulness or goodness of the service. There must be a balance between the two of them.

3. Interoperability beyond borders :supported by eIDAS regulatory framework.

 

Trust service providers: electronic registered delivery.
Advocate for Registered electronic delivery hybrid model: a step backwards in the European Digital Single Market
Part of the discussion, led by some representatives of postal operators, revolved around the so-called “hybrid models”, ie electronic delivery and physical reception. I would dare to say that behind the advocacy of those hybrids models there is no prospect to a business change, since these new eTrust services are regarded not as great opportunities, but as a serious concern.
I understand that the defence of hybrid models is based on corporate interests and anchored in home market paper, let’ it be quite clear, is at odds with the global reach that the new European regulation aims. The hybrid proposals fall short of the inherent spirit of the digital revolution that the EU aims to achieve, which is none other than using digital interaction naturally, giving European intra transactions qualified trust services that are easy, agile and safe, both legally and technically.
Summing up, the vast majority of participants supported the need for eTrust service regulation. Beyond the risks that this may mean (“legislate does not mean set up barriers,”someone asserted; How many providers of eTrust services will survive the new Regulation? some delegates wondered). The EU managed to take a unanimous consensus about which qualities trusted services required and, unlike eID previous session with the banking sector, this is a major accomplishment.

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