The Definitive Guide to Global E-Signing: Security, eIDAS, and Independent Validation

The Complete Guide to Global E-signing: eIDAS, Security, and Independent Validation

A deep dive into the laws and technical security surrounding digital signatures. Learn how to verify signatures independently of platform and why Formify offers professional security without entry barriers.

Introduction: From Wax Seals to Pixels – The Story of Trust

Imagine living in the 17th century. If you were to sign an important contract, perhaps selling a horse or pledging your loyalty to a king, just writing your name wasn't enough. You would melt red wax onto the paper and press down your unique signet ring. This wax seal proved two things:

1. It was you who sent the letter (no one else had your ring).
2. No one had opened or altered the letter (since the wax would then be broken).

Today, we live in a completely digital world. We buy skins in games, stream music, and sign leases for our first apartment directly on our mobiles. But how can we be sure that a digital signature is as secure as an old wax seal? How do we know nobody "photoshopped" the document after you clicked "Sign"?

In this guide, we will deconstruct the digital signature and look under the hood. We will explore EU laws called eIDAS, the technology that creates a digital fingerprint, and why you should never settle for a signature that is just an image of your name.

1. The Three Levels of Trust (eIDAS) – What "Level" Are You On?

In Europe, we have a super-law called eIDAS (EU 910/2014). It sets the rules for how digital signatures must work to be valid throughout the EU. You can view it like a leveling system in a game. The higher the level, the harder it is to cheat, and the more "XP" (legal weight) your signature has in a court of law.

Level 1: SES (Simple Electronic Signature)

This is the most common but also the weakest level. It could be typing your name in a stylized font in a form, or drawing your signature with your finger on a screen.

• How it works: You receive an email, click a link, and "approve".
• The problem: It is quite easy for someone to claim: "It wasn't me who clicked; someone else had access to my computer!". The evidentiary value is low because there is no strong link to your actual, verified identity.
• Used for: Simple things like approving a vacation request or signing a receipt.

Level 2: AES (Advanced Electronic Signature)

Here it starts getting serious. For a signature to count as AES, it must meet four strict requirements:

1. It must be uniquely linked to you.
2. You must be identifiable in a secure way (e.g., by scanning your passport or doing a video selfie).
3. It is created using data that only you control (e.g., your own mobile phone).
4. It is linked to the document in such a way that if anyone changes so much as a comma afterwards, it is immediately visible.

Why this matters: If you sign an agreement to buy a moped for $1,000, and the seller afterwards tries to change the figure to $2,000, the AES technology will "break" the signature. It becomes immediately invalid.

Level 3: QES (Qualified Electronic Signature)

This is the final boss of security. A QES is legally exactly the same as sitting in a room with a lawyer and signing a paper with a pen.

The difference: To perform a QES, an independent, government-controlled party (a so-called QTSP) must have verified your identity rigorously, often through a physical meeting or advanced digital identification.

2. The Independent "Padlock": The Math That Guards Your Documents

How does it work technically? A crucial part of a secure signature is the use of a Qualified Trust Service Provider (QTSP). This is an independent third party, registered with the EU, that acts as a sort of "digital notary public".

Formify uses Intesi Group S.p.A, a QTSP listed on the EU's official Qualified Trust Service Providers List (EUTL). Since the verification is handled by an independent actor under eIDAS supervision, the document receives a "digital padlock" that is visible when you open the file in a PDF reader.

Document Integrity: SHA256

Every document in Formify receives a unique "digital fingerprint" through an algorithm called SHA256.

• This ensures that the content remains intact.
• You can use any PDF reader (like Adobe Acrobat Reader) to see that the document has not been changed since it was signed.
• Information about the parties' identity (full name, ID number, and method) is embedded directly into the signature's metadata.

This means that the validity of your contract is not dependent on Formify. You can verify the document's integrity completely independently of us. The proof is inside the file itself, not just in our database.

3. Europe vs. USA: Global Security and "The Wild West"

It is easy to believe that the rules are the same everywhere, but there is actually a significant difference in how security is viewed in Europe versus the USA.

• USA (ESIGN Act & UETA): In the USA, things are more relaxed. There is a lot of focus on "intent". If you can show that both persons wanted to sign, it is often counted as valid, even if the underlying technology was simple (like just typing your name in an email).
• Europe (eIDAS): We in Europe are pickier. We require technical proof, encryption, and identity checks.

Why does this matter to you? For an international company, an European eIDAS compliant e-signature is a huge advantage. Since the European rules are stricter, a signature from Formify is automatically valid in the USA, but it provides a significantly stronger chain of evidence in the event of a legal dispute. It's like having a passport that is valid worldwide instead of just a local bus pass.

4. Formify: AI-First Signing for Better Understanding

Most companies in e-signing just give you an empty box to sign in. We believe a signature is only valuable if you actually understand what you are signing. That is why we created AI-first signing.

Private AI Assistant in Signing

Our assistant helps you by turning legal text into clear, human language. You can ask questions directly to the document, such as: "When can I cancel this?" or "Are there any hidden fees?" and get answers directly in the flow.

Secure Signing Link & Integrity

Every document stays inside a protected document container. This ensures that your sensitive data does not leak to public AI models. Your integrity is built into the system (Privacy by Design).

Multilingual Contract Signing

You can translate the contract before signing into your own language. This removes barriers in international business and reduces the risk of misunderstandings. No one should have to sign something they don't 100% understand.

5. Comparison: Formify vs. Colleagues in the Industry

Here is the truth about what the market looks like today. Most major players talk about security, but when it comes down to it, it is often difficult to access the best tools without first signing expensive contracts.

Formify

The only platform where you can start using AES (Advanced Electronic Signature) and international identity verification during signing (such as video selfie and passport scanning for signing) already in our free version. We are built for the intelligent era with a built-in private AI assistant in signing that helps you by turning legal text into clear, human language.

DocuSign

The global market leader that has become synonymous with e-signing. However, they focus mainly on simple SES signatures (stamped names) for the broad masses. If you need advanced identity control or eIDAS compliance, expensive add-ons or specific Enterprise agreements are often required, and these functions are rarely available for testing outside of paid plans.

Adobe Sign

A heavyweight in document management that is deeply integrated into Adobe's ecosystem. Like DocuSign, their focus is on simple signatures (SES). To reach European AES requirements, complex settings and expensive subscription levels are often required. They do not offer the opportunity to freely test advanced identification in an entry-level version.

Oneflow

A Swedish actor specializing in interactive HTML contracts instead of static PDF files. Although they offer a modern flow, their most advanced security features and verification methods are often locked behind paywalls. It is rarely possible to experience their full security potential without a business agreement.

Scrive

A strong Nordic player with a major focus on eID solutions like BankID. They do a good job with security in the Nordics, but their business model is based on you signing up for a subscription or a specific agreement to gain access to the professional identification tools for your documents.

Signaturit

A leading actor in Southern Europe, especially in Spain and France. They focus heavily on biometric signatures and qualified services according to eIDAS. But just like their colleagues in the industry, they generally require you to become a paying customer before you get access to their more advanced verification flows.

Why Settle for Less?

Most of our colleagues don't even give you the chance to experience the security of a real AES signature before you open your wallet. At Formify, we want you to know exactly what legal weight you are getting. Therefore, we let you use our safest technology – including the independent "digital padlock" from a certified issuer – completely free from the start.

Summary: Architecture Wins Over Hope

In the AI era, you cannot just hope that your signatures are secure. You need a system built on the principle of independent proof. By using a secure signing link with independent third-party verification, you ensure that your contracts are valid forever, regardless of which platform was used to sign them.

With Formify, you get the best of two worlds: the power of a private AI assistant explaining the terms, and the legal weight of an eIDAS compliant e-signature.