Switzerland votes again on electronic identity cards

Swiss voters are heading to the polls on Sunday to decide whether to introduce electronic identity cards. The plan has already been approved by both houses of parliament, and the government backs a yes vote. It is the second nationwide referendum on the issue after voters rejected the idea in 2021 amid concerns over data protection and fears the system could be run largely by private companies.

Under the revised proposal, the system would remain entirely in public hands; the data on the electronic IDs would be stored on users’ smartphones rather than centrally, and participation would be optional. Citizens can still rely on the national identity card, which has been standard in Switzerland for decades. To ease privacy concerns, a particular authority seeking information—proof of age or nationality, for example—will only be able to check for those specific details.

Supporters say the system would make life easier for everyone, enabling bureaucratic procedures to be completed online and accessed more quickly, from signing up for a telephone contract to proving you are old enough to buy alcohol. But Switzerland has a long tradition of protecting its citizens’ privacy. The banking secrecy laws, though diluted, were designed to shield personal finances from state scrutiny. Swiss policy on personal data remains strict by international standards; for years, Google Street View was controversial in Switzerland, and even today, images near schools, women’s refuges, hospitals or prisons must be automatically blurred. There are far fewer CCTV cameras in Switzerland than in many neighboring European countries.

Opponents of electronic ID cards continue to argue that the measure could undermine privacy, even with new restrictions on how data is collected and stored. They fear the information could still be tracked or used for marketing purposes. Latest opinion polls, however, show voters may be ready to give electronic ID a chance, reflecting optimism about digital conveniences even as privacy concerns persist.

The debate echoes Switzerland’s experience with the government’s Covid ID, which was used during the pandemic to show vaccination status and was mandatory to enter restaurants and bars. After the easing of restrictions, citizens and businesses gained new appreciation for digital credentials that could simplify everyday activities, a factor cited by supporters of the updated proposal.

Observers note that the Swiss have a strong tradition of privacy: most households own smartphones and engage with social media, and many recognize that tech giants already collect data about their online behavior. Yet, many voters believe that allowing public authorities to check a few details in specific contexts may not fundamentally alter their privacy landscape, given the limited scope of access and the emphasis on keeping the system public and optional.

If approved, the plan would move forward with further details to be defined by lawmakers and the administration, including how the smartphone-based ID would be used in daily life and which services would be eligible for online verification. The vote thus stands as a barometer of how far Swiss privacy norms will bend to embrace digitally enabled government services, even as distrust of centralized data collection remains a constant feature of the public conversation.