At the end of September, Swiss citizens will decide whether to approve the implementation of a digital identity. The proposal has wide approval, but it also faces opposition from those who point to security risks.
On September 28, Switzerland will hold a national vote in which, among other matters, citizens will decide whether to approve the Electronic Identification Services Act (e-ID). On that day, two issues will appear on the ballot, but the central debate has focused on the e-ID, a digital credential proposed to modernize interaction with both the state and private companies.
This digital identification would be an official means of identification issued by the state: free of charge, optional, and complementary to the physical document. The government would operate the “trust infrastructure” and provide an app to manage the credential under high standards of security and data protection. According to official information, its goal is to enable secure and efficient procedures, both online and in person.
The referendum was triggered by a facultative referendum against the law—a mechanism that allows citizens to challenge a regulation approved by Parliament and require it to be submitted to a popular vote. The Federal Council and Parliament recommend its approval. To guide voters, the authorities distributed an explanatory booklet outlining arguments from both sides and practical details on how to vote.
Among the arguments in favor is that an electronic identity document would help Switzerland keep pace with digitalization, make the state more efficient by streamlining procedures and reducing burdens on individuals, and, since it was developed domestically, strengthen national autonomy and independence.
On the other hand, opponents warn that the e-ID may not be sufficiently secure or adequately protect privacy, that it could generate sensitive volumes of data with risks of misuse or surveillance, and that the law does not absolutely guarantee that its use will always remain voluntary.
“There are concrete cases that demonstrate how digitalization benefits citizens. A clear example is Estonia, where 99% of procedures can be carried out digitally, and this system is estimated to save each resident five days a year,” says Felipe Lorca, General Manager of EVoting.
It is worth noting that in 2021, a vote on its implementation was also held, but voters rejected the measure, mainly because it would have been issued by private companies.