Human Rights Alert (NGO)

Joseph Zernik, PhD PO Box 31440, Jerusalem 91313, Israel; 123456xyz@gmail.com;

" 91313 " 4413

12-11-13 Ministry of Justice Freedom of Information response (46- ,)in re: Electronic Signatures
On Freedom of Information (FOIA) request filed on June 27, 2012, and again on July 19, 2012, response was dated November 13, 2012, and post-stamped December 26, 2012. The time for response provided by law is 30 days. The FOIA response is deficient on all items that were requested. The response suggests that the Ministry of Justice claims "privacy" right, relative to the display of electronic signatures of the Ministry of Justice officers, with no foundation in the law.

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Record
12-11-13 Ministry of Justice Freedom of Information response (46- ,)in re: Electronic Signatures [English translation - jz] 12-11-13 Ministry of Justice Freedom of Information response (46- ,)in re: Electronic Signatures [Hebrew Original] Attachment 1: Unidentified page, extracted from a manual for individuals scanning paper records in the Ministry of Justice, in re: electronic signatures by the scanning individual. The manual instructs that the electronic signatures are to be kept invisible, and would be disclosed only if: a) the record is intended as legal evidence, or b) integrity of the scanned record is challenged. Attachment 2: Copy of the March 29, 2007 report to the Knesset by Attorney Yoram HaCohen, with no visible electronic signatures. (the FOIA request was for the same record, with its electronic signature)

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LINKS:
[1] 12-06-27 Freedom of Information Request (46/T) on the Ministry of Justice, in re: Secure electronic signatures of officers of the Ministry of Justice http://es.scribd.com/doc/98529841/ [2] 13-01-04 Requester's reply on Freedom of Information response (46/T) by the Ministry of Justice, in re: Secure electronic signatures of officers of the Ministry of Justice http://www.scribd.com/doc/118851822/ [3] 13-01-15 "Lack of integrity of the electronic record systems of the ... Courts in Israel," noted in the 2013 Human Rights Council Staff Report http://he.scribd.com/doc/120461368/

[Coast of Arms of the State of Israel] State of Israel Ministry of Justice Freedom of Information Officer Jerusalem, November 13, 2012 In response please refer to: File No 46/ To: Dr Joseph Zernik PO Box 31440 Jerusalem 91313 Greetings, RE: Request pursuant to the Freedom of Information Act 1998 Your letter, dated July 18, 2012 Following review of your request, referenced above, I herein respond as follows: Attached is the report, which was filed by Attorney Yoram HaCohen, including "copy of the secure electronic signature." Regarding paragraph b) of your request, the subject is a private signature instrument of the state employee, effectively the only individual using such signature is the Head of the Law and Technology Authority Attorney Yoram HaCohen. Regarding paragraph c) of your request, the rules, pertaining to this matter, are found in the Electronic Signature Act -2001 and the respective Regulations, where rules exist for validity of secure electronic signature. Additionally, use is made of secure electronic signatures during the scanning process, and attached are the relevant guidelines. Respectfully,
[hand signature - jz]

Attorney Michal Teneh Public Communications Unit and Freedom of Information Officer