Digital identity in Switzerland: a democracy’s test of trust

Switzerland, long admired for its model of direct democracy, its regular referendums and its deep-rooted traditions of neutrality and privacy, has once again placed a technological issue at the heart of public debate: digital identity, or e-ID. In 2021, Swiss voters decisively rejected a first version of the system, making clear that they are not easily persuaded to entrust something as sensitive as personal identity to private companies.

For those unfamiliar with the Swiss system, direct democracy takes three forms: popular initiatives, which allow citizens to propose new laws with 100,000 valid signatures; optional referendums, which let citizens challenge existing laws with 50,000 signatures (as in this case); and mandatory referendums, required for constitutional changes, joining international organizations, or extending emergency legislation.

The development of a digital identity system in Switzerland has been marked by hesitation and resistance. In March 2021, 64.4% of voters rejected a proposal that would have introduced an e-ID managed primarily by private companies. Under that plan, the government would certify identities, but the infrastructure would be built and operated by commercial providers. The public response was unequivocal: the issue was not digitization itself, but rather the governance model…