THE Legislative Assembly approved the long awaited law to give certified digital signatures, as well as other vital electronic documents, the same legal validity as hard copies, in second debate Aug. 23.To take effect, the law awaits the signature of President Abel Pacheco and publication in the official government newspaper La Gaceta.Heralded as Costa Rica’s stepping stone into the digital era, the bill has been in the works since 2001 and is expected to have a significant impact on the daily workings of the business sector, government operations and judicial procedures (TT, June 17).For example, with the new law people will be able to submit government forms, pay bills and transfer property titles online, among other transactions, saving citizens from around the country trips to central offices in San José.
