Swiss voters have approved a plan to introduce electronic identity cards, with 50.4% of voters in favor and 49.6% against the proposal. This result is notable due to its narrow margin, given that opinion polls had previously indicated that up to 60% of respondents supported digital IDs. The proposal also received backing from the Swiss government and both houses of parliament.
This vote marks the second occasion that Switzerland has held a nationwide referendum on digital identities. The first proposal, rejected in 2021, faced criticism over data privacy concerns, particularly regarding the central storage of data and its management by private entities. In contrast, the updated proposal maintains governmental control over the digital ID system.
Under the revised plan, users’ data will be stored exclusively on their smartphones, maintaining a decentralized approach. Additionally, the digital IDs will remain optional, allowing citizens the choice to continue using the traditional national identity card if they prefer.
Source: https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cdr624j16jpo?at_medium=RSS&at_campaign=rss