The people are to vote again: yes or no to electronic identification
18.07.2025 – Eveline Rutz
The Confederation aims to bring in electronic identification (e-ID) next year. However, three committees argue that the data protection provisions are inadequate. It’s going to the vote.
Preparations are in full swing: from 2026, Swiss citizens are to be able to identify themselves electronically. e-ID will make it easier for them to use online services provided by the authorities and the private sector. Digital ID will also help with practical, everyday things like buying alcohol. After voters rejected the first concept in March 2021 (“Swiss Review” 6/2022), a new solution has emerged and is enjoying broad support.
Under the new system, the state – as opposed to private providers, which was the plan the first time around – is responsible for all the processes. The Confederation will develop, operate and monitor the trust infrastructure. That includes the electronic wallet where people will be able to file their driving licence, qualifications and proof of insurance. The Confederation will also be in charge of distributing e-ID. Sensitive personal data will be better protected and sparingly stored, and the owner will determine with whom it is shared.
“Digitale Gesellschaft”, which played a big part in the 2021 no vote, sees “major improvements”. Its demands have been taken up, says managing director Erik Schönenberger, who also has words of praise for the participative procedure adopted by the Federal Administration. “Instead of a business model for private providers, the focus has shifted to public usability”. The e-ID will be free of charge and voluntary. Those who prefer to remain analogue will still be able to identify themselves with their passport or ID card.
Supported across the board
The Federal Assembly came out resoundingly in favour of the Federal Act on Electronic Identity Credentials and Other Electronic Credentials (e-ID Act) at the end of 2024. There was unanimity across the political spectrum: Switzerland needs an e-ID to progress digitally. The Confederation is currently working on the specific implementation of the initiative, involving broad segments of the IT sector, politics and society. The plan is to submit the corresponding ordinance for consultation in the summer.
Criticism of e-ID is not a matter of being left or right of centre, says campaign leader Jonas Sulzer. It affects everybody. Photo: Keystone
Although the bill is in the home straight, the people will get one more chance to have a say. Three committees, normally diametrically opposed, successfully campaigned for a vote. The Pirate Party, alongside two groups that formed during the pandemic, were instrumental in this. Representatives of the Young SVP Switzerland as well as the Federal Democratic Union of Switzerland (EDU) also played their part in ensuring the referendum came to pass in May 2025. Criticism of the e-ID Act has nothing to do with being left or right of centre, argues campaign leader Jonas Sulzer: “The issue affects everybody.” Still, there was discord among opponents of the Act during the collection of signatures. Some leaders left the Pirate Party following internal conflict and founded a new party, “Digitale Integrität Schweiz” (DIS). It will most likely also play a key role in the campaign.
Monica Amgwerd thinks the data protection in the new Act still does not go far enough and that the bill repeats mistakes from 2021. Photo: Keystone
Critics demand more explicit specifications
DIS General Secretary Monica Amgwerd fears that the e-ID Act does not do enough to combat potential abuse. It is repeating the mistakes of 2021: “It enables private companies to analyse sensitive personal data via AI, set up behavioural profiles and derive financial gain from that.” Important principles like data minimisation and data protection through technology are not sufficiently embedded in the Act, she says. Moreover, the legal text does not specifically state that the digital ID is voluntary. “People could be pushed towards using e-ID through costs or other machinations,” warns Amgwerd. More stringent specifications are needed: “The right to a life offline should be ensured.”
Federal Councillor Beat Jans promises an e-ID solution conforming to the highest data protection standards. Photo: Keystone
A key to digitalisation
The e-ID will serve the people, stressed Federal Councillor Beat Jans in parliament. It will meet the highest standards of data protection, he said: “It will be free and voluntary. It must be useful and straightforward for everyone.” The people get to make their own decisions as far as possible. They will be personally responsible for whom they choose to share personal data with. They will have access to a trust register to help them with that. If they are dealing with companies that do not meet the required security level, they will be informed accordingly. Their data will only be stored locally with layers of protection.
e-ID supporters argue that electronic identification is the key to digitalising the different parts of a person’s life. It will enable efficient and end-to-end digital processes, facilitating e-voting, for example. Anyone wanting to vote online would no longer have to identify themselves by post. This would particularly benefit the Swiss Abroad, as they would no longer need to receive the printed documents in time.
Lukas Weber, Director of the Organisation of the Swiss Abroad (OSA), is understandably positive about the new proposal. It takes account of key issues pertaining to the “Fifth Switzerland” and offers fundamental improvements, he says. According to Weber: “The state-distributed e-ID facilitates digital cross-border communication between authorities and enables secure, paperless e-voting.” Four cantons are currently documenting their experiences of the digital voting channel (“Swiss Review” 4/2023). Gathering online signatures would also be made easier. The Federal Council only announced recently that it would allow e-collecting on a trial basis.
The diaspora could also enjoy improved access to Swiss banking services via digital ID. Lukas Weber considers it imperative that the digital document comply with international standards and thus be able to be used anywhere.
The testing environment is proving popular
The authorities provide regular updates on how the e-ID will look, function technically and be used. There is already a – fictional – identity document available to anyone who is interested via the app Swiyu. The testing environment is being used frequently and so far without any issues, says Rolf Rauschenbach, e-ID information officer at the Confederation. Suggestions for improvements will be acted on, he says, and the project is proceeding according to plan. “The referendum will not necessarily cause any delays.”
Decision time will be in the autumn. The Federal Council has decided to hold the referendum on the e-ID Act on 28 September 2025. If the voters give the green light, digital identification can go ahead in the third quarter of 2026 as planned. If they say no, the process will come to a halt again.
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