international telecommunication union hipssa project support for harmonization of the ict policies...

InternationalTelecommunicationUnion

HIPSSA ProjectHIPSSA Project

Support for Harmonization of the ICT Policies Support for Harmonization of the ICT Policies in Sub-Sahara Africa in Sub-Sahara Africa

Model Law for Electronic Transactions and E-Commerce

Tana Pistorius, HIPSSA expert

PURPOSE

Facilitate e-growthFacilitate e-growthLegal certaintyProtection of individuals

Advantages of legislative Advantages of legislative synergysynergy

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General enabling

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Electronic Transactions5

Electronic commerce

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3 PIVOTAL PRINCIPLES Functional equivalenceFunctional equivalence

Translation of requirement to electronic environment

Media neutrality Technology neutralityTechnology neutrality

No prescribed technologyFlexible- accommodate future

technologies Compatibility with best practicesCompatibility with best practices W

International Best Practices

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THE ROAD LESS TRAVELLED

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Public Key Encryption

Biometric recording

Pen & digitising pad hard copy signature

Data records biometric characteristics e.g. speed acceleration & verified against biometric signature data

Numerical identifier encrypted with biometric signature data

Also fingerprints, retina prints etc.

Illustration: Time of contracting

Time of contract formation

Canada: Communicated - when? Sent? Received? Steps 2-5

Belgium: Acceptance rule: reaches mailbox & possibility to take note step 4 or 5?

Germany – reaches host computer of addressee Step 4

Norway: Comes to the knowledge of addressee – accessed & opened e-mail step 5

SADC rule...RECEPTIONSADC rule...RECEPTION

Conclusion: Why is it NB??

Legal recognition and time & place = Basis of e-contracting & legal certainty

Peter Steiner published by The New Yorker on July 5, 1993

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/On_the_Internet,_nobody_knows_you're_a_dog

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OUR TASKS: Detect & amend Detect & amend

Provisions tied to a Provisions tied to a specific specific technologytechnology

Provisions that treat Provisions that treat paperpaper and and electronic electronic formsforms unequallyunequally

ProvisionsProvisions that do not cover aspects that do not cover aspects of e-commerce and e-transactions of e-commerce and e-transactions fullyfully

Non-harmonised clauses – Non-harmonised clauses – UNCITRALUNCITRAL input input

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Questions…Questions…

Tana Pistoriuspistot@unisa.ac.zaResearch Professor: UNISAActing Head: Directorate Innovation & Technology Transfer

Adam Mambi

Union Internationale des Télécommunications International Telecommunication Union