The AHV number becomes the person’s identification

The AHV number becomes the person’s identification

The AHV number can be used in the future as a personal identifier. The National Council followed the Council of States on the most controversial point of the new Information Security Law. The template is ready for the final vote.

The National Council had initially doubted the added value of the bill and therefore only acted on the second attempt. However, until near the end, he refused to systematically use the AHV number as a personal identifier in computer systems. I preferred a number derived from the AHV number.

The Federal Council initially preferred this variant, but later abandoned it. “Federal authorities should be able to use the AHV number as a personal identifier,” Defense Minister Viola Amherd said. The new AHV law provides for the systematic use of the AHV number by the authorities to identify people.

On Thursday, the National Council joined the Council of States with 140-46 votes from SVP and Greens. The minority around Léonore Porchet (Greens / VD) would have wanted to go their own way. She argued with data protection and the risk of identity theft.

“Giant Law”

Over the years, the bill has become “a great law” and leaves questions unanswered, said Thomas Hurter (SVP / SH). Much of his group did not support him in the final vote. The range of costs mentioned for the implementation as well as the necessary positions is wide, he explained.

Protection against hackers is a central objective of the new law. It mainly affects the federal authorities, the parliament, the federal courts, the federal prosecutor’s office and the National Bank. The private and business sectors are affected when they perform security-sensitive activities for federal authorities.

But the Federal Council wants to improve cooperation with the cantons. They must ensure an equivalent level of information security when processing classified information from the federal government or accessing your IT resources.

The principle of advertising remains

Risk management and the classification of information are regulated. This creates a tense relationship with the Freedom of Information Law, which basically entitles everyone to inspect official documents and receive information from administrative units. (aeg / sda)