Electronic Identification: Federal Council accelerates
Departments of Justice and Police and Finance, Chancellery, Cantons and academia urged to work together on EI despite March 7, 2021 “no” vote
The Federal Council of the Swiss Confederation intends to present a new solution for electronic identification (EI) in the near future.
At its meeting on 26 May 2021, it instructed the Federal Department of Justice and Police (FDJP) to draw up a master plan by the end of the year in collaboration with the Federal Department of Finance (FDF) and the Federal Chancellery (FC) and with the involvement of academia and the cantons.
Consultation on a new law scheduled for May 2022
Consultation on a new law is scheduled for May 2022.
On March 7, 2021, the Federal Electronic Identification Services Act (EI Act) was clearly rejected with nearly 65% voting against it. However, the need for an EI is uncontested.
As early as March 10, 2021, representatives of all parliamentary groups filed six motions of the same tenor in the spring session concerning a “Reliable State Electronic Identity” (21.3124, 21.3125, 21.3126, 21.3127, 21.3128, and 21.3129).
At its meeting on May 26, 2021, the Federal Council decided to propose that Parliament accept these motions because it intends to present a new solution for EI that takes into account the requests contained in the motions as soon as possible.
It has instructed the FDJP to draw up, within the year and in cooperation with the FDF and the CaF, a master plan for the implementation of a new EI.
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The Federal Institutes of Technology in Zurich and Lausanne are to be involved.
In the drafting of the plan, which is to involve the Federal Institutes of Technology in Zurich and Lausanne as well as the cantons, the technical feasibility of implementation must be examined and the question of costs clarified.
On the basis of the plan, the Federal Council will then set the cornerstones for a new legislative project on EI.
The consultation on a new EI law is scheduled for May 2022.