The Visible Digital Seal International Council (VDSIC)
Established in October 2016, VDSIC is the independent global authority responsible for the governance, standardization, security, and trustworthiness of the Visible Digital Seal (VDS) environment. Building on pioneering work in secure document technology, VDSIC provides the essential framework that enables digital trust for documents and products worldwide, based on VDS open and standardized technology.
Our Mission & Vision
Develop and promote an intersectoral and international environment for the Visible Digital Seal (VDS) by bringing together current and future stakeholders (both direct and indirect), ensuring the global integrity, authenticity, security, and interoperability of VDS through effective governance and the maintenance of trust environment.
A world where digital information associated with physical and electronic items can be universally trusted through the seamless and secure verification provided by the VDS related standard, fostering efficiency and combating fraud.
Key pillars are:
Standardization: Defining clear, open, and internationally aligned technical and operational rules.
Security: Upholding rigorous security practices throughout the environment.
Interoperability: Enabling the VDS verification across diverse countries, systems and use cases.
Trust: Building confidence through transparency, compliance, and a robust governance framework.
Collaboration: Uniting diverse stakeholders to collectively enhance digital security.
What We Do
VDSIC hosts the Governance Board for the VDS fulfilling several critical functions:
Define Global Policies & Standards: We develop and maintain the VDS technical specifications, operational rules, and security policies, ensuring alignment with international standards like ISO 22385 and ISO 22376. This includes defining universal formats and security requirements (e.g., compliance with eIDAS principles for certificates, ETSI profiles for TSPs/CAs, technical profiles for certificates, signature standards).
Manage the Root Trust Framework: We operate and secure the Governance List (Root LoTL) – the ultimate trust anchor referencing accredited Scheme Operators and their authorized Certification Authorities (CAs).
Accredit & Oversee Scheme Operators (TSOs): We evaluate, approve, and oversee organizations acting as Scheme Operators who manage VDS specific schemes, delegating authority within defined boundaries.
Support Use Cases creation: We facilitate the definition of VDS implementation by document type.
Ensure Environment Compliance & Interoperability: We ensure that all stakeholders (Scheme Operators, TSPs/CAs, solution providers) adhere to the VDS environment to guarantee security and seamless global interoperability. This includes maintaining frameworks for compliance with VDS generation and verification solutions.
Promote Standardization & Evolution: We actively support the ongoing national and international standardization for VDS environment.
Our Role in the VDS Environment
VDSIC sits at the apex of the VDS trust environment. We provide the essential governance layer and act as the ultimate trusted third party for the system itself, making widespread, reliable verification possible. Our central role ensures:
Consistency: Common rules prevent fragmentation.
Accountability: Clear responsibilities for security and operations.
Verifiable Trust: A traceable path to validate issuer authority globally.
From National Innovation to Global Standard
VDSIC builds upon significant foundational work, particularly in France. The need for VDS emerged from efforts by the French Agence Nationale des Titres Sécurisés (ANTS) to combat fraud related to proof-of-residence documents, identified as a vulnerability in passport issuance, especially with increasing digitalization.
Early Collaboration: ANTS collaborated with technology providers to develop the initial solution, known as “2D-Doc”, which became the first interoperable VDS implementation, adopted by organizations like EDF and Bouygues Telecom.
Broad Stakeholder Involvement: The initiative quickly grew, incorporating input from diverse sectors including government (Ministry of Interior, DNLF), finance (CFONB), institutions (Chartered Accountants, Bailiffs, Registrars), postal services (La Poste Group), and trust industry players (Goodflag – ex Lex Persona, Certigna – ex Dhimyotis, etc.).
FnTC: The Fédération des Tiers de Confiance du numérique (FnTC) was an early and crucial supporter, recognizing the innovation. FnTC played a key role in establishing labels for VDS “2D-Doc” generation and verification solutions, a prerequisite for provider recognition by ANTS. The term “Visible Digital Seal” itself originated within an FnTC working group.
Transition to Broader Governance: Recognizing the need for managing VDS beyond public sector documents, ANTS proposed in late 2014 that FnTC manage private-sector applications. In collaboration, FnTC took the initiative to pursue formal standardization (initially via AFNOR in France, aiming for ISO) and to establish VDSIC in October 2016 to provide the necessary secure environment and governance for expanding VDS use internationally.
Board Directors
Gilles BARRE
President
Zbigniew SAGAN
General Secretary
Yves LE QUERREC
Treasurer
Jean-Louis REVOL
CTO
Laurent Tonnelier
Technical Expert
