[ad_1]
- “The digital passport does not belong to private companies” – with this motto the referendum committee started the voting campaign for the so-called E-ID law.
- The people will decide on the bill on March 7, 2021.
For the first time, the E-ID Law aims to commercialize an official identification and have it issued by private providers. Opponents criticize companies like banks and insurance companies replacing passport offices and managing citizens’ sensitive data.
A broad alliance of organizations and parties fights against privatization. Representatives of the SP, Greens, FDP and GLP appeared in front of the media on Monday. The campaign is led by the Digital Society and the Public Beta Association.
The issuance of identity cards must remain a responsibility of the State and belongs to democratic control.
The committee requires that, as with the paper passport, the state guarantees digital identity.
Parliament decided on a compromise
The National Council and the Council of States agreed to a compromise for the E-ID law in September of last year. This aims to create the framework for the secure identification of persons in business transactions on the Internet or in e-government applications.
The Federal E-ID Commission (Eidcom) should be responsible for the recognition of E-ID issuers and also supervise them. Swiss Sign Group, which operates Swiss ID, is already in the starting blocks as an issuer. The consortium includes Post, SBB, Swisscom, Six, the big banks and insurance companies.
Supporters argue that the federal law on electronic identification services (E-ID law) sets clear and strict rules for a simple but secure digital identification process. Private providers would issue verified federal government ID. This is a clear division of tasks between the state and the private sector.
