Our review of 2025

As we predicted, 2025 has been a big year for Videosign and the wider world of digital signing and witnessing.

Here’s a run-down of key events and developments from the last 12 months.

January: Deepfake fraud warning

We warned of the growing danger of deepfake fraud after a woman in France was duped out of €830,000 by criminals posing as Brad Pitt.

The victim was groomed by the scammers for a year and a half as they sent multiple deepfake images and videos to convince her that she was in a relationship with the Hollywood star.

The scheme culminated in the victim handing over hundreds of thousands of Euros for medical bills after AI-generated images were used to trick her into believing that Pitt needed help to pay for kidney cancer treatment.

Although an extreme case of deepfake fraud, the story highlighted the risk of deepfake fraud and the importance of using software like Videosign, offering robust ID verification.

February: ID scammers targeted universities

Universities were targeted by international student applicants using deepfakes during online application processes.

Enroly, a software platform used by universities for online applications, reported that it had uncovered a small but concerning number of attempts to use computer-generated images to trick their way through candidate interviews.

This issue presents numerous risks to universities, from reputational damage to removal of licences to sponsor students through UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI).

Again, the issue highlighted the need for robust ID verification and ‘liveness detection’ when conducting important processes and transactions online.

March: Legal challenge highlighted need for electronic wills

A legal dispute over a will underlined the urgent need for the modernisation of law around inheritance, and the introduction of electronic signing and remote witnessing to safeguard these important documents.

Today’s Wills and Probate reported how a son successfully challenged the validity of his late mother’s £700,000 will.

Video evidence played in court showed the man’s sister placing a pen in their dying mother’s hand and physically moving it to sign over her entire estate. 

The judge in the case ruled that the will was invalid, and that the mother’s hand had been physically manipulated to sign the document.

The case demonstrated how using video evidence alongside robust electronic signatures can be used to prove the validity of wills.

April: We highlighted how Videosign can make recruitment process more secure

Amid growing reports of candidates using deepfakes to cheat their way through job interviews conducted remotely, we highlighted the benefits of using Videosign for recruitment processes. 

Tough safeguards make our software the perfect place to seamlessly carry out security checks and conduct job interviews.

Recruiting the right people is one of the most important things for a business to get right if it’s going to succeed and grow.

As technology develops to give cheats and criminals new ways to exploit employers, it’s vital to stay ahead of the game and make sure your recruitment processes can’t be beaten.

Using Videosign for recruitment is one example of how our advanced security features provide additional layers of assurance when completing important tasks.

May: We welcomed a proposal to make wills electronic

A report from the Law Commission of England and Wales contained proposals to allow wills to be made, signed, and witnessed remotely in the first overhaul of inheritance law since 1837.

June: Big changes at Videosign

We carried out a huge update to the Videosign platform, including a new and more intuitive design and the launch of several new features.

Videosign Contract Creator (VSCC) offers users the ability to create reusable document templates for regular processes, workflows or transactions.

Meeting capacity was expanded to 10 participants for users signing contracts involving multiple stakeholders.

AI transcription was also added to boost productivity through text summaries and action points from recorded meetings.

And for the first time, the software now features a ‘Directsign’ option allowing users to sign straightforward documents when a video call isn’t needed.

July: We appointed a new marketing and communications manager

Nia Forrest-Owen, took on the newly-created role of marketing and communications manager, having previously worked as the company’s business development manager.

She said: “Working at Videosign originally appealed to me because it’s a fast-moving business with a rapidly-evolving product, which means you have to be able to work in an agile way.

“Moving into marketing and communications means I can move my career in the direction I want to be heading long term, while still being a part of this innovative growing business.”

August: We welcomed a Land Registry call to use Qualified Electronic Signatures

We welcomed the Land Registry’s decision to accept Qualified Electronic Signatures for residential and commercial property sales documentation in England and Wales.

Qualified Electronic Signatures are the most secure form of electronic signature, and come with an encrypted digital certificate providing secure, tamper-proof evidence of who signed, and how.

Using qualified electronic signatures offers greater security and assurance for everyone involved in a property transaction.

It means that transactions can be carried out entirely digitally, with no need to produce paper documents or go through the time-consuming process of witnessing signatures in person.

Security features built into the signatures mean identities of all parties can be proved beyond doubt using technology that is far less vulnerable to fraud than traditional pen-and-ink.

We think this is a massive step forward, making property transactions more efficient and more secure than ever.

September: Demystifying eIDAS

We provided a breakdown of eIDAS, the legal standard for electronic signatures in Europe and the UK.

eIDAS is shorthand for ‘electronic identification, authentication, and trust services’ and is the legal framework covering various areas of digital security, including electronic signatures.

The legislation establishes standards for electronic signatures, electronic seals, time stamps, and other trust services that are essential for secure digital transactions.

Videosign’s signed documents are valid in the EU and UK thanks to eIDAS Qualified seals placed on all our completed documents.

These electronic seals - provided by reputable security specialists Swisscom - use advanced encryption technology to guarantee the integrity of documents.

For both businesses and consumers, these regulations are a cornerstone of secure and reliable services, enabling smoother, safer, and more efficient online interactions - essential in your electronic signature software!

October: We appointed a new business development manager

Jack O’Sullivan joined us as our new business development manager, aiming to draw on experience gained in the legal and financial sectors to support Videosign’s continued growth. 

He said: “I’d been looking for opportunities to grow and move on to the next stage of my career, and when I came to Videosign I could instantly tell that it was where I wanted to be. 

“The scope for the product is massive. I’m looking forward to working with the team and playing a part in moulding the future of the company.”

Jack, originally from Surrey, moved to the north west to study law at the University of Liverpool, and stayed in the city after graduation - working in sales and business development for companies in the legal and financial services sectors.

November: Exploring the future of AI

We attended the Liverpool City Region AI Summit, having lots of great conversations about how AI is here to expand human capability, not replace it, how we can use AI for good in our region, and importantly, how we can prepare our workforce for the exciting changes ahead.

From fantastic speakers to some really cool robot dogs, talking heads, and AI event assistants, there was plenty to explore - and it’s always great to be involved in events like this in Videosign’s home city.

December: Looking ahead to 2026

After another great year, we’re looking forward to the festive season - and we’re also thinking ahead to 2026!

Developments we expect to see in 2026 include:

• The launch of even more features and the continued evolution of workflows in the Videosign platform.
• Growing use of digital systems for conveyancing following changes made by the Land Registry this year.
• Increased use of digital identification and electronic signatures across a wide range of industries and sectors in 2026.
• Growing risks of identity fraud making secure digital identification and signing processes more important than ever.

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year from everyone at Videosign!