Legal Certainty and Evidentiary Strength of Digital Signatures in Electronic Contracts under Indonesian Law

Authors

  • Taffy Faiq Syahmi Dr. Soetomo University Surabaya, Indonesia
  • Agus Wardhono Dr. Soetomo University Surabaya, Indonesia
  • M. Syahrul Borman Dr. Soetomo University Surabaya, Indonesia
  • Wahyu Prawesthi Dr. Soetomo University Surabaya, Indonesia

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.37680/almanhaj.v8i1.8904

Keywords:

Digital Signature; Electronic Contract; Business Law

Abstract

The rapid advancement of digital technology has driven the widespread use of electronic contracts in modern business transactions, where digital signatures play an essential role in verifying authenticity, maintaining document integrity, and establishing mutual consent between parties. This study analyzes the legal validity and evidentiary weight of digital signatures under Indonesian law. Using a normative juridical approach, it examines relevant laws, particularly Law No. 11 of 2008 as amended by Law No. 19 of 2016 on Electronic Information and Transactions (ITE Law), along with supporting regulations and legal literature. The research evaluates whether digital signatures meet legal requirements and provide certainty in practice. The findings show that digital signatures are legally valid and binding if they can identify the signer, maintain document integrity, and prevent repudiation. They are also recognized as legitimate evidence in court. However, challenges remain, including limited public understanding, the need for stronger technological security, and the continued use of handwritten signatures for certain documents. Overall, digital signatures enhance the reliability of electronic contracts and support secure digital transactions in Indonesia.

References

Agit, A., Julyana, S. A., & Ma’ruf, B. (2023). Tinjauan Literatur pada Pengaruh Literasi Digital terhadap Perkembangan Bisnis Online di Era Digital. Seminar Nasional Amikom Surakarta (Semnasa) 2023, 624–634. https://ojs.amikomsolo.ac.id/index.php/semnasa/article/view/143

Amajihono, K. D. (2022). Kekuatan Hukum Kontrak Elektronik. Jurnal Panah Keadilan, 1(2), 129–139.

Anggraini, O. E., Yulifa, W. R., & Santoso, A. P. A. (2020). Perlindungan Hukum bagi Konsumen atas Garansi Produk dalam Hukum Bisnis. Prosiding Seminar Nasional Hukum, Bisnis, Sains Dan Teknologi, 8, 161–168.

Awaisheh, S. M. (2025). From Paper to Pixels: The Legal Status and Challenges of Electronic Writing in Administrative Contracts. A comparative study of current legal systems. Electronic Government, an International Journal, 21(2), 210–226.

Behbudov, G., Abbasov, E., Aliyev, H., Huseynov, T., & Aliyev, E. (n.d.). Juridical Sciences. Agricultural Sciences, 18.

Bix, B. (2012). Contract Law: Rules, Theory, and Context. Cambridge University Press.

Budianto, A. (2020). Legal Research Methodology Repositioning in Social Science Research. International Journal of Criminology and Sociology, 9(1), 1339–1346.

Daffa, M. F., Rahman, S., & Qahar, A. (2023). Kekuatan Pembuktian Tanda Tangan Elektronik sebagai Alat Bukti dalam Perkara Perdata. Journal of Lex Philosophy, 4(1), 205–221. https://doi.org/10.52103/jlp.v4i1.1499

Dahlia, M., & Susetio, W. (2023). Tinjauan yuridis Penggunaan Tanda Tangan Digital dalam Perjanjian Jual Beli. Jurnal Multidisiplin Indonesia, 2(8), 2277–2289. https://doi.org/10.58344/jmi.v2i8.442

Dermawan, R. (2021). Pemanfaatan Tanda Tangan Digital Tersertifikasi di Era Pandemi. Rewang Rencang: Jurnal Hukum Lex Generalis, 2(8), 762–781.

Dewi, M. H. H., & Diana, H. (2024). Peran Teknologi dan Hukum Bisnis di Era Globalisasi Ekonomi. Jurnal Ekonomi, Bisnis dan Manajemen Akuntansi (JEMBAK), 3(3), 895–906.

Dewi, N. M. T., & Sukardi, N. M. R. (2023). Kekuatan Hukum Tanda Tangan Digital dalam Pembuktian Sengketa Perdata Menurut Undang-Undang Nomor 11 Tahun 2008 tentang Informasi dan Transaksi Elektronik. Jurnal Ilmiah Raad Kertha, 6(2), 37–44. https://doi.org/10.47532/jirk.v6i2.927

Dewi, P. E. T. (2021). Perkembangan Hukum Bisnis pada Era Digitalisasi: Urgensi Pengaturan Perlindungan Data Privasi di Indonesia. Prosiding Seminar Nasional Fakultas Hukum Universitas Mahasaraswati Denpasar, 1(1), 45–54. http://e-journal.unmas.ac.id/index.php/psnfh/article/view/2386

Diffie, W. (2002). The First Ten Years of Public-Key Cryptography. Proceedings of the IEEE, 76(5), 560–577.

Feldman, D. (2016). Legislation that Bears no Law. Statute Law Review, 37(3), 212–224.

Frosinini, A., & Borra, V. (2025). Bits, Bytes, and Legal Bites: Navigating the Digital Frontier of Trade Law and Practice. In Quantum Leap: Innovative Strategies for Trade Finance in the 21st Century and Beyond (pp. 359–404). Springer.

Hayek, F. A. (2022). Law, Legislation, and Liberty, Volume 19 (Vol. 19). University of Chicago Press.

Hudzaifah. (n.d.). Keabsahan Tanda Tangan Elektronik dalam Pembuktian. In Kumpulan Kajian Hukum (pp. 194–204).

Kellerman, A. (2022). Social-spatial Interaction, Proximity, and Distance: from Face-to-Face to Virtual Communications. Applied Mobilities, 7(4), 394–412.

Khedker, U., Sanyal, A., & Sathe, B. (2017). Data flow analysis: Theory and Practice. CRC Press.

Kidd Jr, D. L., & Daughtrey Jr, W. H. (1999). Adapting Contract Law to Accommodate Electronic Contracts: Overview and Suggestions. Rutgers Computer & Tech. LJ, 26, 215.

Li, F., Whalley, J., & Williams, H. (2001). Between Physical and Electronic Spaces: The Implications for Organizations in the Networked Economy. Environment and Planning A, 33(4), 699–716.

Najib, F., Ritonga, J. S., Rifai, A., & Lubis, M. I. (2024). Perkembangan Hukum Bisnis di Kota Medan: Tantangan dan Prospek bagi Pengusaha Lokal dalam Era Globalisasi. Jurnal Ilmu Hukum, 4, 1560–1567.

Nasution, E. Y., Hariani, P., Hasibuan, L. S., & Pradita, W. (2020). Perkembangan Transaksi Bisnis E-Commerce terhadap Pertumbuhan Ekonomi di Indonesia. Jesya, 3(2), 506–519. https://doi.org/10.36778/jesya.v3i2.227

Nasution, I. (2022). Implementasi Kebijakan Peraturan Pemerintah Nomor 17 Tahun 2020 tentang Perubahan atas Peraturan Pemerintah Nomor 11 Tahun 2017 tentang Manajemen Pegawai Negeri Sipil dalam Pengembangan Karier pada Badan Kepegawaian dan Pengembangan Sumber Daya Manusia Ko.

Noor, M. U. (2021). Tanda Tangan Digital: Otoritas pada Arsip Elektronik. JIPI (Jurnal Ilmu Perpustakaan Dan Informasi), 6(1), 17. https://doi.org/10.30829/jipi.v6i1.8165

Nyangarika, K. M. (2013). Legal and Evidential Validity to Electronic Transactions in Commerce and Formation of Contract: Tanzania Perspective. The Open University of Tanzania.

Penubadi, H. R., Shah, P., Sekhar, R., Alrasheedy, M. N., Niu, Y., Radhi, A. D., Tharwat, M., Tawfeq, J. F., Gheni, H. M., & Abdulbaqi, A. S. (2023). Sustainable Electronic Document Security: A Comprehensive Framework Integrating Encryption, Digital Signature, and Watermarking Algorithms. Heritage and Sustainable Development, 5(2), 391–404.

Prasetya, A. Y., Astono, A. D., & Ristianawati, Y. (2021). Analisa Strategi Pengaruh Influencer Marketing di Social Media, Online Advertising dan Content Marketing terhadap Keputusan Pembelian. Jurnal Manajemen, 12, 258–270.

Reed, C. (2001). Legally Binding Electronic Documents: Digital Signatures and Authentication. Int’l L., 35, 89.

Sihombing, L. B. (2020). Keabsahan Tanda Tangan Elektronik dalam Akta Notaris. Jurnal Education and Development, 8(1), 135.

Sulaiman, E., Arifudin, N., & Triyana, L. (2021). Kekuatan Hukum Digital Signature sebagai Alat Bukti Yang Sah Ditinjau dari Hukum Acara Perdata. Risalah Hukum, 16, 95–105. https://doi.org/10.30872/risalah.v16i2.207

Tektona, R. I., & Laoly, S. R. (2023). Kepastian Hukum Tanda Tangan Digital pada Platform PrivyID di Indonesia. Acta Diurnal: Jurnal Ilmu Hukum Kenotariatan dan Ke-PPAT-An, 6(2), 245–253. https://doi.org/10.23920/acta.v6i2.1141

Trojanowicz, M. (2008). Advances in Flow Analysis. John Wiley & Sons.

Usman, T. (2020). Keabsahan Tanda Tangan Elektronik pada Perjanjian Jual Beli Barang dari Perspektif Hukum Perdata. Indonesia Private Law Review, 1(2), 87–98. https://doi.org/10.25041/iplr.v1i2.2058

Van Veldhoven, Z., & Vanthienen, J. (2022). Digital Transformation is an Interaction-Driven Perspective on the Relationship Among Business, Society, and Technology. Electronic Markets, 32(2), 629–644.

Wang, F. F. (2014). Law of Electronic Commercial Transactions: Contemporary Issues in the EU, US, and China. Routledge.

West, S. M. (2022). Cryptography as Information Control. Social Studies of Science, 52(3), 353–375.

Widya Astuti, A., Sayudin, S., & Muharam, A. (2023). Perkembangan Bisnis di Era Digital. Jurnal Multidisiplin Indonesia, 2(9), 2787–2792. https://doi.org/10.58344/jmi.v2i9.554

Yufriadi, F., Syahriani, F., & Afifi, A. A. (2024). Trade Transformation in the Digital Era: Agency role, Opportunities and Challenges. Al-Imam: Journal on Islamic Studies, Civilization and Learning Societies, 5(1), 13–23.

Downloads

Published

2026-05-07

How to Cite

Syahmi, T. F., Agus Wardhono, Borman, M. S., & Prawesthi, W. (2026). Legal Certainty and Evidentiary Strength of Digital Signatures in Electronic Contracts under Indonesian Law. AL-MANHAJ: Jurnal Hukum Dan Pranata Sosial Islam, 8(1), 259–274. https://doi.org/10.37680/almanhaj.v8i1.8904

Issue

Section

Articles