PANAMA

On February 6, the Electronic Commerce General Directorate (DGCE) published a Technical Code in the Official Gazette which specifies minimum technical conditions to be met by technological storage systems. The document sets a period of 12 months from its entry into force for the storage service systems to comply with the new provisions. The regulation will enter into force within three months, starting February 6. 

The published document sets out the minimum guarantees that technological storage must meet. These include:

• Integrity: the integrity of the stored electronic document must be guaranteed by current technological practices, including the proper use of electronic signatures.

• Presentation fidelity: the electronic document must faithfully guarantee the features of the original physical document.

• Time stamp: there must be a date and time stamp on the document stored in the system.

• Metadata usage. Metadata must be used to manage any documents associated with the electronic document. 

• Playback/export: the technological storage system must have the capacity to reproduce and/or export the electronic document at the adequate speed required by industry.

• Backup. all electronic documents should be backed up. 

• File manager: a designated person should be responsible for the technological storage of the documents.

• Conservation time: electronic documents should be retained according to the type of information contained until the minimum retention time required is met.

This regulation will be verified and audited by the DGCE, and may also be reviewed by the DGCE to improve and adapt the fulfilment of its purposes at least once a year.