<P> An electronic signature, or e-signature, refers to data in electronic form, which is logically associated with other data in electronic form and which is used by the signatory to sign . This type of signature provides the same legal standing as a handwritten signature as long as it adheres to the requirements of the specific regulation it was created under (e.g., eIDAS in the European Union, NIST - DSS in the USA or ZertES in Switzerland). </P> <P> Electronic signatures are a legal concept distinct from digital signatures, a cryptographic mechanism often used to implement electronic signatures . While an electronic signature can be as simple as a name entered in an electronic document, digital signatures are increasingly used in e-commerce and in regulatory filings to implement electronic signatures in a cryptographically protected way . Standardization agencies like NIST or ETSI provide standards for their implementation (e.g., NIST - DSS, XAdES or PAdES). The concept itself is not new, with common law jurisdictions having recognized telegraph signatures as far back as the mid-19th century and faxed signatures since the 1980s . </P>

What is the definition of an electronic signature according to the e sign act