Broad alliance fights e-ID law passed by parliament

In the last fall session, the councils agreed on rules for a future electronic ID card (Werbewoche.ch reported). Accordingly, the so-called E-ID should enable electronic identification in accordance with Swiss rules for online transactions and contacts with authorities.

It was largely undisputed in Parliament that Switzerland needs a means of enabling citizens to prove their identity easily and securely online.

The stumbling block, however, is the division of tasks between the state and the private sector as decided by Parliament. The federal government only checks and confirms a person's identity. The E-ID is to be issued by private providers, so-called identity providers, which in turn are monitored by the federal government.

"Sovereign task of the state"

For a coalition of organizations, networks and parties, the privatization of the digital Swiss passport is a "historic system change" and an absolute no-go, as various representatives announced at an online media conference on Tuesday.

Issuing the E-ID is a "sovereign task of the state and not a business model for private companies", said Erik Schönenberger from the organization Digitale Gesellschaft. If the federal government does not trust itself with the task, then it must now learn to do so.

Data protection issue

Daniel Graf from We Collect described the Federal Act on Electronic Identification Services, as it is called in full, as a "package deal" concluded by parliament with the business community that is far removed from the will of the people. It was a "genuflection to the interests of the economy - at the expense of democracy and the population".

The Swiss Sign Group, which includes Swiss Post, SBB, Swisscom, Six, the major banks and insurance companies, has already positioned itself. The consortium, which already has millions of customer relationships, wants to stand up to the Internet giants with Swiss ID.

Support from the Left-Green

In the eyes of opponents, this means that private companies would issue the "digital Swiss passport" and manage sensitive data. They are convinced that there is a lack of trust in private companies when it comes to data protection. "We want good public digital services," said Zurich SP National Councillor Min Li Marti on behalf of her party.

For National Councillor Sibel Arslan (Greens/BS), the key issue is that citizens should be able to choose between a private or a state-issued E-ID. According to the new law, however, the federal government should only take action if the private E-ID does not work. Otherwise, the federal government will only have a control function via the planned authority called EIDCOM.

With a survey behind us

Just in time for the start of the signature collection, the referendum committee has received a tailwind. According to a recent survey by the University of Zurich, a private solution, as proposed by the federal government and parliament, has no chance with citizens. 82% of respondents want the E-ID to be provided by the state. Only 1.7 percent said they would prefer a private solution.

According to Andreas Freimüller from the Campax campaign organization, more than 100,000 people were ready to support the referendum even before it was launched. A total of 50,000 signatures are required within one hundred days, i.e. by January 16.

Yes to state ID

The E-ID referendum is backed by a non-partisan coalition of organizations, networks and parties. The referendum is supported by the Digital Society, the independent Swiss campaign organization Campax, the democracy platform We Collect and the association Public Beta. It is supported by the SP, the Greens, the Pirate Party and members of other parties.

To coincide with the start of the signature collection, the committee has launched an E-ID vending machine to promote a digital Swiss passport from the state. The personalized "Swiss E-ID" stands for the central demand of the referendum campaign: Yes to a digital Swiss passport from the state, No to a solution from private companies. (SDA)