Chapter 325K — Purposes and Construction

325K.001 Short Title This chapter is officially called the 'Minnesota Electronic Authentication Act.' It sets the rules for digital … 325K.01 Definitions This section defines all the key terms used in the Electronic Authentication Act. It covers terms like 'digital … 325K.02 Purposes and Construction This section states the goals of the Electronic Authentication Act. The law aims to make electronic commerce more … 325K.03 Role of the Secretary The Minnesota Secretary of State serves as a certification authority and oversees the digital signature system. The … 325K.04 Fees The Secretary of State sets fees for all services under this chapter. The fees must be enough to cover the costs of … 325K.05 Licensure and Qualifications of Certification Authorities Companies that want to issue digital certificates in Minnesota must get a license from the Secretary of State. To … 325K.06 Performance Audits Every licensed certification authority in Minnesota must be audited by a certified public accountant with computer … 325K.07 Enforcement of Requirements for Licensed Certification Authorities The Secretary of State has the power to investigate certified authorities, issue compliance orders, suspend or revoke … 325K.08 Dangerous Activities by Certification Authority Prohibited This section prohibits all certification authorities—licensed or not—from running their business in ways that create … 325K.09 General Requirements for Certification Authorities This section requires licensed certification authorities and their subscribers to use only 'trustworthy systems' when … 325K.10 Issuance of Certificate Before a licensed certification authority can issue a digital certificate, it must verify the applicant's identity in … 325K.11 Warranties and Obligations Upon Issuance of Certificate When a certification authority issues a certificate, it makes legally binding promises to the subscriber: that the … 325K.12 Representations and Duties Upon Accepting Certificate When a person or organization accepts a digital certificate for use, they make legal representations—including that they … 325K.13 Control of Private Key Subscribers must keep their private keys under their sole control and must not share or disclose the private key to … 325K.14 Suspension of Certificate A certification authority can temporarily suspend a digital certificate for up to 96 hours when there is reason to … 325K.15 Certificate Revocation Certificate revocation permanently cancels a digital certificate so it can no longer be used to create valid signatures. … 325K.16 Certificate Expiration Every digital certificate must have an expiration date set by the certification authority. When the expiration date … 325K.17 Recommended Reliance Limits A certification authority and subscriber can include a 'recommended reliance limit' in a digital certificate, which … 325K.18 Collection Based on Suitable Guaranty This section describes how people harmed by a certification authority's failure can make claims against the authority's … 325K.19 Satisfaction of Signature Requirements This section establishes that a digital signature legally satisfies any requirement for a written signature, as long as … 325K.20 Unreliable Digital Signatures If someone relies on a digital signature that turns out to be forged or unreliable, and that reliance was not reasonable … 325K.21 Digitally Signed Document is Written This section gives digital signatures the same legal force as written documents signed on paper. A message that bears a … 325K.22 Digitally Signed Originals A copy of a digitally signed message is just as legally valid as the original, unless the signer specifically designated … 325K.23 Acknowledgments This section allows digital signatures to serve as the equivalent of a formal acknowledgment (notarization) when they … 325K.24 Presumptions in Adjudicating Disputes; Liability Allocation This section sets out legal presumptions that apply when courts resolve disputes about digital signatures. When a … 325K.25 Recognition of Repositories This section sets the requirements for 'recognized repositories'—public databases where information about certificates, … 325K.26 Rulemaking This section gives the Secretary of State authority to adopt administrative rules to carry out the Electronic … 325K.27 Court Rules This section makes clear that the Electronic Authentication Act does not limit the authority of the Minnesota Supreme …