Electronic signatures through Messenger Max: Explanation by the Russian Digital Ministry
The integration of Goskey and Max, two popular platforms in Russia, offers a significant leap forward in the process of electronically signing documents for legal entities, individual entrepreneurs, and individuals. This innovative union facilitates the use of Enhanced Qualified Electronic Signatures (EQUES) and Enhanced Non-Qualified Electronic Signatures (ENES), both of which are legally recognised under Russian law.
- Centralised Access to Electronic Signature Services
Goskey serves as a unified gateway, connecting government services, including authentication and electronic signature verification, with platforms like Max. By integrating with Goskey, Max gains direct access to Russia's trusted infrastructure for electronic signatures, thereby simplifying the user experience.
- Seamless Signature Verification and Generation
Through Goskey integration, Max can automatically verify the authenticity of electronic signatures issued by recognised Certification Authorities in Russia, whether EQUES or ENES. This means documents signed electronically via Max are instantly validated according to Russian legal standards without requiring manual checks.
- Support for Multiple Signature Types
The system supports both EQUES and ENES, each with different legal weight and use cases: - EQUES (Enhanced Qualified Electronic Signature): Equivalent to handwritten signatures under Russian law, with the highest legal status. - ENES (Enhanced Non-Qualified Electronic Signature): Typically used for less formal transactions but still legally valid within specific contexts.
Max, via Goskey, can recognise and process both types, allowing users—legal entities, entrepreneurs, or individuals—to sign documents electronically while adhering to the proper legal framework.
- Improved User Authentication and Security
Integration ensures that users authenticate through trusted Goskey methods, enhancing security and reducing risks of signature forgery or misuse. This also supports compliance with Russian Federal Law No. 63-FZ “On Electronic Signatures.”
- Automation and Speed
The workflow for generating, attaching, and validating electronic signatures is automated, accelerating document turnaround times. Signatories don’t need to switch between multiple systems; they operate within Max’s interface, with Goskey enabling backend trust and compliance.
- Legal Compliance and Audit Trails
All signature actions processed through Goskey’s framework are compliant with Russian regulatory requirements, including maintaining secure audit trails needed for legal validation and dispute resolution.
In addition, the integration of Goskey with Max aims to simplify document exchange, particularly for contracts with telecommunications operators. Notifications about documents received in Goskey can be sent through the integrated national messenger, enhancing efficiency and communication. It's important to note that the law does not affect other methods of electronically signing documents outside of Goskey.
The key signing functions for documents in Goskey will remain within the specialized Goskey app, allowing users to sign departmental documents directly in Goskey without the use of Max. This integration provides a legal and technological bridge that enables Russian businesses and individuals to efficiently execute electronic signatures using EQUES and ENES with full compliance, increasing trust, reducing paperwork delays, improving security, and ensuring that electronically signed documents hold the same legal validity as their paper counterparts within the Russian Federation’s regulatory environment.
- Expanding Boundaries in Financial and Technological Communication By enabling Electronic Signature Services with finance and technology applications, Max takes steps to seamlessly integrate with Goskey, thereby revolutionizing the way news regarding legal matters, contracts, and finances are exchanged and managed in Russia.
- Strengthening the Foundation of Russia's Digital Economy The merging of Goskey and Max effectively establishes a robust infrastructure that supports the proliferation of legally valid electronic signatures in a wide array of sectors, ranging from finance to technology, empowering Russian businesses and individuals to navigate the digital economy with increased efficiency, trust, and security.
