Strengthening acceptance of e-ID with additional measures
The acceptance of the government's electronic identity card (e-ID) among the population is to be further strengthened in light of the close referendum result. At its meeting on February 25, 2026, the Federal Council was informed about the corresponding adjustments to the e-ID. The focus is on data protection, transparency, and security in its application.
The e-ID Act was narrowly approved in the referendum on September 28, 2025, with 50.39 percent voting in favor. Immediately after the decision, Federal Councilor Beat Jans instructed the Federal Office of Justice (FOJ) to take on board the main points of criticism raised by opponents and to implement them as far as possible before the introduction of e-ID. The aim is to increase acceptance of the new state e-ID. At its meeting on February 25, 2026, the Federal Council was informed about the planned amendments.
Restriction of data retrieval and exclusion of non-compliant providers
The adjustments focus in particular on further strengthening data protection and trustworthiness in the use of the e-ID and the associated infrastructure. For example, only legally authorized providers will be able to retrieve users' AHV numbers. Unauthorized requests will be automatically blocked by the swiyu wallet.
In addition, providers will be required to register their desired data queries and their purpose in advance in a publicly accessible federal register. If the provider is not registered or requests too much information from users, the latter will receive a warning via the swiyu wallet and can report the abuse to the FOJ. As a last resort, the FOJ can exclude a provider that has committed an offense from the e-ID system and the trust infrastructure.
The aim is to create greater transparency for e-ID holders. Notifications and warnings in the swiyu wallet will enable users to quickly and easily find out about the trustworthiness of providers.
Cost-cutting measures have no impact on the security of the e-ID
Despite the budget cuts of CHF 1.7 million for 2026 decided by parliament, the e-ID is expected to go live on December 1, 2026. The cost-cutting measures have no impact on the security of the e-ID and the e-ID trust infrastructure. This is operated by the Federal Office of Information Technology, Systems, and Telecommunication (FOITT) at two independent federal locations (PRIMUS in Bern and CAMPUS in Frauenfeld).
For cost-saving reasons, however, all planned further developments must currently be abandoned, in particular the connection to international e-ID systems, the federal government's back-up service, and the issuance of e-IDs in third-party wallets.
Further possible cost-cutting measures may also mean that the federal government does not have sufficient financial resources to develop additional digital credentials in addition to the e-ID. The introduction of the electronic driver's license and the operation and further development of the AGOV government login, on the other hand, are financed from other budget items.
The non-linkability of the e-ID is guaranteed
The cost-cutting measures have no impact on the non-linkability of the e-ID. The e-ID will be technically unlinkable from the moment it is introduced. Unlinkability is achieved by issuing a person with several e-IDs that are technically different. Since each e-ID is only presented once, individual transactions cannot be technically linked to each other. Once the e-IDs in the swiyu wallet have been used up, new ones are automatically issued.
Awaiting the Federal Supreme Court's decision on the referendum complaints
Several referendum complaints were filed in connection with the referendum on September 28, 2025. Until the Federal Supreme Court has made its decision, the confirmation of the referendum result and the enactment of the E-ID Act by the Federal Council remain on hold.
Contact/enquiries:
Rolf Rauschenbach, Federal Office of Justice
+41 58 465 31 20; rolf.rauschenbach@bj.admin.ch
Responsible department:
Federal Department of Justice and Police FDJP