Enhancing Document Notarization with Cryptography in the Digital Age

To those who grew up in the electronic age, notarization of documents has the odor of antiquity and obsolescence. It is an ancient practice, but ironically it serves purposes directly analogous to many of high priority for modern electronic documents. And now modern security techniques are bringing notarization to the electronic realm, to the benefit of both. Think of notaries as an old-world authentication and accreditation system.

In the United States, they are accredited by the state, and similar positions are supported by governments the world over. They witness the signature of documents, authenticate the signatories, and accredit the signatures through a physical mark attached to the paper: an ink stamp, a crimp, even a physical seal (how's that for old world?).

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