Study of the Electronic Signature as an Element of Digital Identity
Abstract
Purpose: to identify the key technical and legal mechanisms that ensure the reliability of electronic signatures as a component of digital identity, particularly their ability to guarantee user authentication, document integrity, and the legal validity of signatures. Special attention is given to the role of qualified trust service providers, the protection of private keys, and the potential use of electronic signatures to combat misinformation.
Method: comparative analysis of legal and technical frameworks.
Findings: The study revealed significant differences between electronic signature approaches in the USA and the EU: in the USA, legal validity is based on the signer’s intent, while in the EU it relies on high security standards and qualified electronic signatures (QES) equivalent to handwritten ones. Ukraine has integrated the European model by adopting the qualified electronic signature (QES), compliant with eIDAS, ensuring the legal validity of digital identity. Qualified trust service providers ensure user identification, key protection, and certificate revocation, minimizing risks. It was found that QES is effective in combating disinformation by guaranteeing authenticity, integrity, and non-repudiation. The implementation of AI and international interoperability are key to advancing digital identity development.
Theoretical implications: The study consolidates digital identity and e-signature definitions across NIST, eIDAS, and Ukrainian frameworks, bridging technical standards with legal interpretations into a unified perspective.
Practical implications: Electronic signatures are effective tools for user authentication, verifying document integrity, and combating misinformation by authenticating the source of content.
Value: The study highlights the dual significance of the Qualified Electronic Signature (QES) as both a legal instrument and a cybersecurity tool and reveals its role in ensuring the authenticity of digital content.
Future research: Future work should explore biometric integration, AI-driven signature verification, and cross-jurisdictional interoperability of e-signature systems.
Papertype: theoretical.
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References
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Copyright (c) 2025 Ivanna Khomych, Anastasiia Shvets, Solomiia Soroka, Roman Kuten
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