Digital Transformation of Signatures: Suggesting Functional Symmetry Approach for Loan Agreements

Abstract

This article aims to formulate proposals for regulatory bodies whose implementation would ensure the effective introduction of civil circulation into electronic signatures, with minimal costs for economic entities. While electronic signatures have been widely discussed in academic literature, there are still gaps in the understanding of similarities and differences between electronic and handwritten signatures, the functional specifics of the relationship between them, and the role of electronic signatures for electronic contract. Our research has allowed us to overcome this gap adopting a functional symmetry approach based on measuring the distance between fuzzy sets and the Mamdani fuzzy inference algorithm. This made it possible to form an estimate of the degree of functional symmetry between different types of signatures in a fuzzy and exact form. Correspondingly, we argue that the signature can be viewed as a set of procedures rather than as a single act in order to achieve functional symmetry with a handwritten signature. The case of online lending was used to test and prove this hypothesis. Therefore, regulating electronic signatures needs to focus on the efficiency of this processes for ex ante identification, capturing the intent, ensuring the inalterability and providing reliable evidence, irrespective of the type of electronic signature that is used. It was also revealed that the proposed functional symmetry approach can be combined with a fuzziness index analysis to provide new prospects for further research.

Keywords

• electronic signature
• handwritten signature
• electronic signature regulation
• digital economy
• fuzzy model
• online lending