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E-id: digital identity card divides:
Electronic identity
E-ID. Nevertheless, a digital identity card that divides Switzerland – E-id: digital identity card divides
Four years after the failure of a first version, the E-ID returns to the polls in September with a completely redesigned concept. Meanwhile, This is what changes.
The electronic identity (E-ID) will allow Swiss nationals. However, people with a residence permit in Switzerland to prove their identity online.
MORITZ HAGER/TAMEDIA
- The Confederation will issue the E-ID in the Swiyu electronic e-id: digital identity card divides portfolio in the third quarter of 2026 at. Moreover, the earliest.
- The implementation costs for the period 2023-2028 are up to 182 million francs
- The major parties support the project. Nevertheless, while the UDC remains divided.
What are we going to vote on? – E-id: digital identity card divides
Until now, it was necessary to present a passport or an identity card to prove your identity in Switzerland. Consequently, The E-ID will be the third option from next year. Similarly, This proof of identity is a digitized document. Consequently, It contains the same information as the classic identity card: name. Moreover, first name, date of birth, sex, place of origin, place of birth, nationality and identity photo. Similarly, Added to this AVS number.
The decentralized system guarantees better protection of personal data. Consequently, Unlike physical identity documents, the Confederation will freely issue e-id: digital identity card divides the electronic document. Therefore, Foreigners residing in Switzerland will be able to request a digital foreigners booklet. Consequently, Its use is optional. Similarly, But a referendum was launched against his introduction, which is why She is now subject to the vote.
Why use E-ID? – E-id: digital identity card divides
A woman pays her purchases at an automatic fund in a Lidl store in Switzerland.
She celik/tamedia
E-ID can be used wherever an official identity document is now necessary. It can in particular simplify the procedures. However, save time on a daily basis, for example to open a bank account or order an extract from criminal records.
Until now, people who have ordered an online register extract have been to scan their identity card. Similarly, The E-ID can also serve as proof of age for online purchases. For example, the automatic supermarket funds, especially for alcohol and cigarettes.
Where is the E-ID stored?
The Confederation manages the trusted infrastructure necessary for this purpose and is the issuer of the ID. Public Beta is a test environment accessible to the public for the confidence infrastructure of the Swiss Confederation.
GAETAN BALLY/KEYSTONE
L’application swiyu constitutes the centerpiece of the new offensive to digitize the Confederation. To simplify, it works like a digital wallet. It can already be downloaded from a smartphone. Individuals can already test it during the phase Public Beta.
In addition to the E-ID. other documents, such as driving license, may in the future be stored digitally in the application. e-id: digital identity card divides Travelers who go abroad will therefore soon need. in theory, than their smartphone to identify at the border or rent a car. However, the E-ID must first be recognized abroad as an official identity document. The Federal Council intends to settle this question by bilateral agreements with other countries once the project has come. into force.
Have we not already voted on the E-ID?
Four and a half years ago, the Swiss population had already spoken on a law concerning electronic identity. At the time, the project had been clearly rejected in the polls. Almost two thirds of Swiss voters had said no. It was planned that it was private providers, not the Confederation, who deliver the E-ID. The state would therefore have only served as a data supplier. providing information available to private companies via a centralized system. This e-id: digital identity card divides has aroused strong concerns about data protection.
The opponents argued that only the State was empowered to issue proof of official identity, not private companies. The PS. the Greens, the PVL as well as specialized associations such as Digital company or Campax had opposed the project.
What is the difference with the first law?
In 2021, the PS and the Greens celebrated the rejection of the E-ID law. Four years later. the national councilors Sibel Arslan (Greens/BS, third from the left) and Min Li Marti (PS/ZH, on the left) both joined the camp of the partisans.
Taddeo Consignments / Tamedia
Four years ago, data protection concerns were one of the main causes of project failure. Confederation and Parliament have therefore made improvements in this area. The new E-ID law provides that user data is no longer stored centrally, but distributed over different sites. Decentralized storage considerably reduces the risk of massive data leaks.
By presenting their e-id: digital identity card divides e-ID, everyone can choose what information they want to transmit. Use data can only be saved with the holder’s consent. External companies have certainly collaborated in the development of the software and the digital trust infrastructure. But the surveillance of the project is only the responsibility of the Confederation.
How much does it cost?
Between 2023 and 2028, the Confederation provided for a total budget of 182 million francs for development, exploitation and pilot projects. In the meantime, around 100 million francs have already been spent. From 2029, operating costs should amount to 25 million francs per year.
Who is in favor of the law?
Large alliance: Simon Stadler (Center/Ur). Min Li Marti (PS/ZH), Gerhard Andrey (Verts/FR), Marcel Dobler (PLR/SG), Franz Grüter (UDC/Lu) and Jörg Mäder (PVL/ZH) promoted the E-ID law during a press conference at the end of June 2025.
ANTHONY ANEX/KEYSTONE
During end votes at the National Council. the Council of States, all the major parties, from the UDC to the Greens, were mainly pronounced in favor of the use of the E-ID. Even professional associations, which had led the referendum in 2021, support the vast majority e-id: digital identity card divides of the project.
Supporters consider electronic identification as a key technology for Switzerland’s digital transformation. Cyberadministration must be simplified. The E-ID must also strengthen security and speed up online purchases, especially for age verification.
Who is against the law?
E-ID opponents filed the referendum’s signatures to the federal Chancellery at the end of April 2025.
Matthias Spicher/Tamedia
The Swiss Pirate Party, the UDF, the young UDC, the Mass-Voll!. The friends of the Constitution, Standing Switzerland and the Swiss Constitutional Alliance have all participated in the signatures harvesting for the referendum against the project. In recent months, the different groups have argued to determine who had harvested how many signatures.
Among the major parties, the UDC could pass through the NO camp. In Parliament already, around a third of the parliamentary group opposed the project. Skepticism in the face of the digitization project should be even more marked. In early July, the UDC Zurich delegates clearly said “no” by 132 votes to 54. At the federal level, the UDC has not yet given a watchword.
What are the arguments of opponents?
The committee of the no sees in the e-id: digital identity card divides E-ID a black box. Opponents do not trust the Federal Council when he says that this project is just a simple digital identity card. Rather, they fear that E-ID becomes compulsory and serves to monitor citizens.
Opponents of E-ID stress that currently. we must rarely identify on a daily basis, but that this obligation will become much more frequent in the future. They also be wary of confederation data protection standards. The skepticism of opponents is largely explained by the experiences lived during the pandemic.
Translated from German by Emmanuelle Stevan
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