International Telecommunication Union HIPSSA Project Support for Harmonization of the ICT Policies in Sub-Sahara Africa Model Law for Electronic Transactions and E- Commerce Tana Pistorius, HIPSSA expert

PURPOSE Facilitate e-growth Facilitate e-growth Legal certainty Protection of individuals Advantages of legislative synergy Advantages of legislative synergy

General enabling provisions Electronic transactions Electronic commerce 3 Model Law Electronic commerce Electronic transactions General enabling provisions

General enabling Definitions Interpretation Sphere of application Ch1: Definitions & Interpretation Legal recognition of electronic information Legal recognition by parties Ch 2: Legal Recognition Writing Signature Secure signatures Incorporation by reference C Ch 3: Legal Effect 4

Electronic Transactions Formation & validity Variation by agreement Ch 4: Legal recognition Time of dispatch Time of receipt Place of dispatch and receipt Time of contract formation Ch 5: Time & place 5

Electronic commerce Electronic communicationsElectronic communications Secure electronic signaturesSecure electronic signatures Ch 6: Attribution Original information Admissibility etc.Original information Admissibility etc. Record retentionRecord retention Production of documentsProduction of documents Notarisation etc.Notarisation etc. Other requirementsOther requirements Ch 7: Electronic evidence Automated message systemsAutomated message systems On-line consumersOn-line consumers On-line marketingOn-line marketing Ch 8-10: Consumer protection On-line safe harboursOn-line safe harbours RequirementsRequirements Ch 11: Service Providers 6

UNCITRAL ML UNCITRAL MLES UNCITRAL Convention Common- wealth Model Laws OECD Guidelines HIPCAR Model Law Draft AU Cyber security Convention COMESA ML Supplement ary Law for Digital Transactions for ECOWAS Legislation of SADC members UETA ETA UECA 7

3 PIVOTAL PRINCIPLES Functional equivalence Functional equivalence Translation of requirement to electronic environment Media neutrality Technology neutrality Technology neutrality No prescribed technology Flexible- accommodate future technologies Compatibility with best practices Compatibility with best practices W

International Best Practices UNECIC UNCITRAL Model Laws COMESA COMESA 9

THE ROAD LESS TRAVELLED 10

Public Key Encryption

Biometric recording Pen & digitising pad hard copy signature Data records biometric characteristics e.g. speed acceleration & verified against biometric signature data Numerical identifier encrypted with biometric signature data Also fingerprints, retina prints etc.

Illustration: Time of contracting

Time of contract formation Canada: Communicated - when? Sent? Received? Steps 2-5 Belgium: Acceptance rule: reaches mailbox & possibility to take note step 4 or 5? Germany – reaches host computer of addressee Step 4 Norway: Comes to the knowledge of addressee – accessed & opened step 5 SADC rule...RECEPTION SADC rule...RECEPTION

Conclusion: Why is it NB?? Legal recognition and time & place = Basis of e-contracting & legal certainty

Peter SteinerPeter Steiner published by The New Yorker on July 5, New Yorker 16

Detect & amend OUR TASKS: Detect & amend Provisions tied to a specific technology Provisions that treat paperand electronic formsunequally Provisions that treat paper and electronic forms unequally Provisions that do not cover aspects of e-commerce and e-transactions fully Non-harmonised clauses – UNCITRAL input 17

18Questions… Tana Pistorius Research Professor: UNISA Acting Head: Directorate Innovation & Technology Transfer Adam Mambi Union Internationale des Télécommunications International Telecommunication Union