From the legal and technical point of view, electronic signatures and electronic contracts have already matured. In fact, as early as 2004, since the implementation of the electronic signature law, electronic signatures and electronic contracts can be used in most fields.

In addition to legal and technical support, this year, a series of policies such as online office, electronic signature and electronic contract have been introduced one after another, which is not so much recognition as vigorous promotion.

According to incomplete statistics, this is the ninth time since June 65438+ 10, 2020 that an important state-level organ (excluding local organs) mentioned the related basic application of "electronic signature" in the paper (excluding speeches):

In June 5438 +2020 10, the Supreme People's Court issued the Pilot Program of Simple Diversion Reform in Civil Procedure and the Implementation Measures of Simple Diversion Reform in Civil Procedure, which made "electronic litigation" prominent.

In February 2020, China National Intellectual Property Administration issued Announcement No.349, pointing out that users can query electronic patent certificates, notices and decisions with electronic seals through the patent electronic application website.

In February, 2020, the Medical Administration and Hospital Authority issued the Opinions on Strengthening Pharmaceutical Affairs Management in Medical Institutions to Promote Rational Drug Use, emphasizing the standardization of "pharmaceutical services in internet plus", emphasizing that people who review, allocate and check electronic prescriptions must use electronic signatures or leave marks in the information system to ensure the traceability of information.

In March, 2020, the Letter of the General Office of Ministry of Human Resources and Social Security on Issues Related to Concluding Electronic Labor Contracts was issued, which made it clear that employers and workers can conclude written electronic labor contracts through consultation.

In March 2020, the Ministry of Housing and Urban-Rural Development issued the Opinions of the Ministry of Housing and Urban-Rural Development on Improving the Efficiency of Online Housing Signing and Filing Services to encourage the use of electronic contracts for housing transactions.

In March 2020, the Party Group of the Ministry of Justice of China issued the Opinions on Strengthening the Party's Leadership in Notarization Industry and Optimizing Notarization Legal Services, which clarified the scope of future online notarization, including the ability of electronic notarization and online electronic evidence preservation.

In May 2020, China Banking Regulatory Commission issued the Interim Measures for the Administration of Online Loans of Commercial Banks (Draft for Comment), which mentioned "signing contracts in the form of data messages", electronic signatures and related data security in many places.

In May 2020, the Third Session of the 13th National People's Congress voted to pass the Civil Code of People's Republic of China (PRC), which came into effect on 202 1, 1 year1October. The Civil Code reconfirms the written form of electronic contracts, and determines the establishment time, establishment place and delivery time of electronic contracts. The legal status of electronic contracts is no different from that of paper contracts.