The legal status of malleableand functional signatures in light of Regulation (EU) No 910/2014

Abstract

In this article, we analyse the legal status of malleable- and functional signatures in light of 910/2014/EU. Both these forms of signatures possess beneficial properties which already legally acknowledged signatures do not. Namely, they allow subsequent changes by authorised parties to for instance anonymise or remove personal data from signed documents. We conclude that the legal status of both these forms of electronic signatures is – depending on cryptographic properties of the malleable- or functional signature as well as the chosen signature-scheme – similar to that of a qualified electronic signature.