In a technological leap, Germany’s Federal Office for Information Security (BSI) has spearheaded the implementation of digital seals, revolutionizing the security of official documents. This innovation, detailed in Technical Guideline BSI TR-03137-1, introduces a digitally signed two-dimensional barcode (DataMatrix) that ensures the authenticity and integrity of printed data on sovereign paper documents.
The digital seal, signed with the document manufacturer’s private key, is a major breakthrough in preventing forgery. Its first application in 2015, during the refugee crisis, improved asylum seekers’ identification and accelerated asylum procedures in Germany. The BSI’s TR has since been integrated into international standards for machine-readable travel documents, enabling transnational use and enhancing border control security.
Notably, the digital seal has found application in Germany’s domestic affairs, facilitating online address changes through the online ID card function. This eliminates the need for physical visits to government offices, streamlining bureaucratic processes.
Addressing the challenge of limited printing space on official documents, the BSI, in collaboration with Fraunhofer SIT, introduced the color Joint Authentication Board (JAB) code. Standardized as ISO/IEC 23634, this color-coded enhancement significantly increases data density, allowing more information to be stored within the barcode while maintaining the same size.
The BSI’s pioneering efforts in digital seals mark a significant advancement in document security, with implications reaching beyond national borders. The adoption of this technology promises to elevate counterfeit protection to new heights, securing vital information with efficiency and effectiveness.
https://www.bsi.bund.de/SharedDocs/Downloads/EN/BSI/Publications/Magazin/BSI-Magazin_2023-01.html