On Sunday, September 28, Swiss voters approved a new bill introducing an electronic proof of identity (e-ID).
Has your country of residence already introduced such a digital ID tool? Does it make your life easier? Do you have concerns about data security or privacy? In your opinion, should Switzerland follow the same model?
After 5 years' residence in Portugal, my residence permit must be renewed in e-ID format
Après 5 ans de résidence au Portugal, le renouvellement de ma carte de séjour est dans le format e-ID
I am a retired computer tech and business owner. As since I a fairly good understanding of the technology path we are being led down, I can say that is what is coming is not as benign as most people are told and seem to accept.__NEVER trust everything we are being told about security and privacy, always apply critical thinking as technology is just becoming more sophisticated so that we are losing our privacy and self control without realizing it. Little by little and then all of sudden we are trapped without options. ____All social media and most messaging is monitored and recorded - there is no privacy. The lack of privacy will now be used to control where we go, what we are allowed to see and say, what we are allowed to purchase and what we are not. It sounds Orwellian and it will be...____At this time I am living in Switzerland but I do not have to live in a country with a digital monitoring system. I am willing to leave this country if it forces me to comply with a digital only controlled environment. Where that would be, I do not know but I am looking at options...
Hi Katy, how sad that Switzerland also chose (albeit by a few votes) this, in my opinion, useless digital ID! I'm surprised that a high percentage of 'YES' votes came from inner (German) Switzerland. In Italy at first ID was not indispensable, now unfortunately you MUST have a digital ID even to register for a public competition or to apply for a job online! Even banks (not all, I think) require digital. Let's go ahead and... from next May 2026, in Italy, it will be __OBBLIGATORY to have digital ID : paper ID (paper format) will be abolished.__Here's what awaits you :( Yes, because there's no going back... __MM mistake that you will 'pay' dearly for in the very near future. __Kind regards, Giuseppe
Ciao Katy, che dispiacere che anche la Svizzera ha scelto (anche se per pochi voti) questa, secondo me, inutile ID digitale! Sono sorpreso che una alta percentuali di "SI" provenga dalla Svizzera interna (tedesca). In Italia all'inizio ID non era indispensabile, ora purtroppo DEVI avere ID digitale anche per iscriverti ad un concorso pubblico o per fare una domanda di lavoro on line! Anche le banche(non tutte, credo) esigono il digitale. Andiamo avanti e...dal prossimo maggio 2026, in Italia, sarà __OBBLIGATORIO avere l'identità digitale : carta d' identità di carta (formato cartaceo) sarà abolita.__Ecco quello che vi aspetta :( Si, perché non si torna indietro... __MMM errore che "pagherete" caro in un futuro molto vicino. __Cari saluti, Giuseppe
Hi Katy,____For me, with a few passports, that's a loaded (and largely irrelevant) question.__National e-IDs, if one has a technical bent and global perspective, are as different as chalk and cheese. Compare Hungary's or China's eID to Finland's or Estonia's. ____Ultimately, the (democratic) variations have little to do with technical differences, and everything to do with how much a Nation's citizenry TRUSTS its public institutions and representatives. That is, if citizens have a chance to question "their" authorities. ____In network speak, propeller-heads will talk about the "trust fabric" between government institutions/domains. But ultimately this trust comes down to what I call "two way" transparency, i..e If any public institution accesses MY stuff, then it must leave a record of the transaction on/ in "my stuff". ____Your colleague, Ben, has already made this citizen's requirement quite obvious by pointing at Estonia's X-Road's "data protection cockpit". https://www.swissinfo.ch/eng/digital-democracy/why-a-slow-paced-digital-transition-may-be-best-for-democracy/89992233__(under "Russia spurs greater data protection awareness" para) AND they need a process to respond together and immediately if they find an abuse.____Remember, Estonia were thinking this way back in the last century. Its mainly the trusting rich countries whose institutions (like swissinfo,ch) outsourced their citizen's security and privacy to (mainly) Microsoft at that time. ____Oh look!. This just came in as I was writing. https://www.swissinfo.ch/eng/swiss-politics/political-scientist-sees-mistrust-of-swiss-authorities-after-e-id-vote/90082622____Next question, from any country's citizens. What's in it for me????"
I see that the vote for E-ID mysteriously went in the favor of those determined to put the populace into an E-ID headlock. Isn't it something that the final tally is 50.4....who would have thought. IMHO...it's rigged I think that they added the .4 just to get an edge. Unfortunately, our western leaders have become so headstrong to lead us into a world of tech sci-fi drama that I wouldn't put it past them to...well...cheat. Yes also in Switzerland...!!! I think there should be a revote as the margin (that they published) is not large enough to implement such a measure. Sorry...I don't trust them.
Good in Argentina began to be used in 2020 ... and you think you have privacy governments know absolutamete everything about us that do not say is another thing the private life of the person does not exist more ... they know absolutely everything if they are interested in something or someone tr filter as a table fe Excel ... are a brick in the wall as the song says ... control us for long . The bacos have their databases they know exactly everything about everyone... I don't know what they are so worried about or they think they are free... cheers
Bueno en Argentina se empezó a usar en el 2020 ... y vos pensas que tenes privacidad los gobiernos saben absolutamete todo de nosotros que no digan es otra cosa la vida privada de la persona no existe más ... ellos saben absolutamente todo si les interesa algo o alguien tr filtran como una tabla fe Excel ... son un ladrillo en la pared como dice la canción ... nos controlan por mucho tiempo . Los bacos tienen sus bases de datos saben exactamente todo de todos.... No se que les preocupa tanto o se creen libres... saludos
10 years ago, it was common to hold a lot of CHF in the wallet. Today, virtually everyone uses plastic, TWINT, Google wallet etc. This trajectory is only headed in one direction. ____I have seen e-Id used in India and it works really well. I have also seen how the Person number in Sweden helps many aspects of a persons life to be linked to one unique id and that also makes llife easier from banking to taxes to prescriptions etc.____One should not be afraid of the future. Best to embrace it and become stronger in the process by fixing the glitches. No implementation will be perfect out of the box. Countries are in a race to move ahead, reduce friction, ambrace innovation. Those who fall behind, risk dropping out altogether.
No...not nearly everyone uses plastic. When I'm out I see quite a number of people using paper and coins...myself included. At least 95% of the time. The unfortunate thing is that many people tend to flow mindlessly with whatever the bureaucrats push on the public and then down-the-line wonder "what happened" as their rights, their very existence is suddenly ruled by those who care about nothing but power. Just wait when you can't purchase a certain item because your carbon credit is over the limit or you've eaten enough meat for the month and not allowed to buy more all due to your E-ID data. This won't end well.
I agree 100% with 'ProperD'.__I already wrote a comment concerning Italy (where I live) but IT WAS CENSORED!!__I asked the reason for non-publication: I am waiting.__In Italy from May 2026 it will be compulsory to have a digital identity card...
Concordo al 100% con "ProperD".__Ho già scritto un commento inerente l'Italia (ove vivo) ma E' STATO CENSURATO!!__Ho chiesto il motivo della non pubblicazione: sto aspettando.__In Italia da maggio 2026 sarà obbligatorio avere la carta identità digitale...
There are commenters here mentioning their country using the E-ID system but Switzerland is not that country. For example, a country like Switzerland would be more prone to getting hacked and people's identities stolen than in India as Switzerland is known for wealth and people think that most Swiss residents are wealthy. I'm totally against the E-ID system 10000%. It guarantees nothing but the ability for governmental authorities to invade your privacy even more. And if they start with 100% digital money you can kiss ALL your freedoms goodbye.
I fully share your opinion. E-ID is also a very attractive tool for secretly spying on people and their habits. The information gathered in this system may also be useful for making important future decisions in the management of the country, but no one will probably ever tell us that.
Condivido pienamente la sua opinione. La E-ID è uno strumento molto attrattivo anche per spiare di nascosto le persone e le loro abitudini. Le informazioni raccolte in questo sistema potranno anche tornare utili per prendere importanti decisioni future nell'ambito della gestione del paese ma questo, probabilmente, non ce lo dirà mai nessuno.
In my country, Guinea, when blackouts occur as a result of power cuts, all the communication networks malfunction, in particular the digital ID card, which is completely blocked due to fraud and theft. Despite the efforts made by the various banking institutions, the Guinean population has serious problems withdrawing money from their bank accounts.
Dans mon pays comme la Guinée quand les pannes générales surviennent suite à des coupures électriques, il y aura le dysfonctionnement de tous les réseaux de communication en particulier la carte numérique ID sera complètement bloquée de ligne faute à des raisons d'escroqueries et vol .Malgré certains efforts mené par les différentes institutions bancaires, la population guineenne rencontre des sérieux problèmes pour le retrait de leurs agents à la banque
Thank you for your contribution, I hope you were able to avoid any damage.
Merci pour cette belle contribution de votre part, j'espère que vous avez eu la possibilité d'éviter d'éventuel dégâts.
When general breakdowns occur, as in Spain for example, an IN card doesn't work. A connection problem and you're stuck. I've seen this more than once with travellers who have digital plane tickets and who have either network or battery problems. Materialising everything makes us entirely dependent, and it's yet another loss of freedom.
Lorsque des pannes générales surviennent comme en Espagne par exemple, une carte IN ne fonctionne pas. Un problème de connexion et on se retrouve coincé. Je l'ai constaté plus d'une fois avec des voyageurs qui ont des billets d'avion numériques et qui ont soit des problèmes de réseau, soit de batterie. Tout matérialiser nous rend entièrement dépendants, c'est une énième perte de liberté.
Thank you for your contribution! Yes, in the event of a power cut, it can become difficult to use an e-ID...
Merci de votre contribution! Effectivement, en cas de panne de courant, il peut devenir difficile d'utiliser une e-ID...
In East Africa, where I also worked, or India, digital services have merit. When post offices and administration are not reliable, ATMs and bank branches don't exist in large areas, then a digital ID on a mobile phone is the only alternative. Cyber-theft of money is not a problem where an average citizen has no savings. However, Switzerland is a completely opposite case.
Thank you for your interesting contribution! Do you think that Switzerland should therefore not have an electronic identity?
Merci de votre intéressante contribution! Estimez-vous que la Suisse ne devrait dès lors pas avoir d'identité électronique
In my opinion, e-ID is not needed. Citizens themselves will be unable to verify safety and privacy. No discussion of problems abroad, from creeping mass surveillance to politicians rejecting results of e-votes as manipulated. No concrete cases of wide benefit to people in Switzerland. Instead an argument 'Swiss fall behind on digitalization' that equals herd mentality. Comparison with digital weather and digital maps shows that the plan is opening the e-ID to many government and commercial interests. The discussion omitted too many important issues. There is not even the calculation of the cost of setting and maintaining e-IDs to taxpayers. It is not a cheap system.
@Katy Romy...You Nailed It...especially the part about "herd mentality." Switzerland has a habit of checking what everyone else is doing then come to the conclusion that Switzerland should do it too.. It's also funny how western countries want to push "E" everything like electric cars but yet don't have the capacity to sustain them nor are they being honest about the dangers to the environment.
The digital ID is one sided - the cost of data theft falls disproportionately on the citizens, but the administration gets benefits like cheaper verification of users. __.__Digital ID is based on a fundamentally false assumption: that IT systems are fundamentally secure. They are not. Data theft is so common that most personal data get stolen. , but the concept is based on a false assumption they are rare and can be neglected. __.__A common scam in Poland where I worked is using stolen personal data to get credit or car insurance on somebody else name. A victim knows nothing until he receives demands from a bank to return money he didn't take, or his bank account is frozen by a repossession man. A person, in practice, is forced to prove own innocence, sometimes having his bank account frozen for weeks or being forced to travel for court hearings to a distant city. It has been known for years but courts still regularly take the view that scams are valid obligations. A digital ID increases potential for the crime of identity theft exponentially. __.__A digital ID may have merit in remote countries where other methods don't work, not in Switzerland.
I fully agree but, unfortunately, according to the most recent polls, the vote on 28 September is bound to have a favourable outcome for the introduction of E-ID.
Condivido pienamente ma, purtroppo, secondo i sondaggi più recenti, la votazione del 28 settembre è destinata ad avere un esito favorevole all'introduzione dell'E-ID.
Good morning everyone!__It's a great deception, for example in Italy from 2026 (August) it will be MANDATORY to have a digital identity card! No more paper.__If you have to access your personal social security file, for example,__you need a digital identity, it's no use in terms of greater security!__Unfortunately Italy is a country without honesty or certain rules, no one knows for sure who and where our data go!__For instance in Switzerland, being a federal democratic country, the situation may be better.If there is a pandemic/emergency, maybe even the pharmaceutical companies, maybe if the vaccine you have to take is not marked so as not to 'die' I will block you with the digital system, I will not let you make the next medical visit you have to make. __Remember the 'infamous' green pass? Here it comes....in digital format.__"And if you break the bank or disagree, well I'll block the digital, I'll shut__everybody up and tilt at 90° degrees."__Good intentions few words.__Dear friends of Switzerland VOTES NO to digital, stay away! It's only the beginning.__Hello a hug.
Buongiorno a tutti!__E' un grande inganno, per esempio in Italia dal 2026 (agosto) sarà OBBLIGATORIO fare la carta identità digitale! Niente più cartacea.__Se devi accedere al tuo fascicolo personale della previdenza sociale, per esempio,__ci vuole l'identità digitale, non serve a nulla in termini di sicurezza maggiore!__Purtroppo l'Italia è un paese senza onestà ne regole certe, nessuno sa con certezza chi e dove vanno i nostri dati!__Forse in Svizzera, essendo un paese democratico federale, la situazione magari può essere migliore .__Si, anche il fascicolo sanitario è digitale in Italia, ok comodo, ma chi può "vederlo"?__Se c'è una pandemia/emergenza magari anche le case farmaceutiche, magari se non è segnato il vaccino che devi fare per non "morire" ti blocco con il sistema digitale, non ti faccio fare la prossima visita medica che devi fare. __Ricordate il "famigerato" green pass? Eccolo arrivverà....in formato digitale.__"E se rompete le scatole o non siete d'accordo, beh blocco il digitale, farò stare zitti__tutti e inclinati a 90° gradi "__A buon intenditor poche parole.__Cari amici della Svizzera VOTATE NO al digitale, state lontani! E' solo l'inizio.__Ciao un abbraccio.
e-ID a very good thing if used democratically.
e-ID cosa ottima se usato democraticamente.
And e-ID makes destroying democracy much easier. Governments test how much electronic tracking they can get away with. From Chinese social credits, through Canada blocking bank accounts of protesters in 2022 to United Kingdom avalanche of facial recognition. This is no longer a theoretical possibility of a sort 'oh why you don't trust us'!
O,K,
I live in Italy. We have the electronic health record and it is very convenient.__The identity card is physical.__Personally, I would not like it to be digital.__Firstly, I am disabled and have my own problems handling the mobile phone.__Secondly, I do not have total confidence in the security that these innovations give on something so personal.__I have already voted NO.
Vivo in Italia. Abbiamo il fascicolo sanitario elettronico ed è molto comodo.__La carta di identità è fisica.__Personalmente non mi andrebbe fosse digitale.__In primis son disabile ed ho i miei problemi a gestire il telefonino.__Secondo non ho fiducia totale nella sicurezza che danno queste novità su qualcosa così di personale.__Io ho già votato per un NO.
My latest Indonesian residence permit is equal to an electric ID card. I do not need to visit the Immigration Office any more. The e-Residence Permit is sufficient.
There's no point in worrying too much about the security of the system - every week major companies are hacked - your first name first name date of birth postal address telephone number and probably your bank cards are already roaming the web__And to finish off, let's have a laugh - I do a Google search for federal councillor and my inbox is flooded with adverts on how to become president of the confederation in 7 days.
Il est inutile de s’inquiéter outre mesure de la sécurité du système chaque semaine de grandes entreprises se font hacker votre nom prénom date de naissance adresse postale numéro de téléphone et probablement vos cartes bancaires se promènent déjà sur le web__Et pour finir rions un peu je fais une recherche sur Google en tapant conseiller federal et ma boite mail est inondée de publicités comment devenir président de la confédération en 7 jours
Exactly. My wife in Indonesia just got a phone call from fake supposed to be Tax Officials, who greeted her with the correct name. (but the Tax Office already warned of such fake calls). Ah well, is this calle progress? Progress yes, but for whom
Hacking always occurs, but bringing data together makes hacking so much more dangerous and painful. Especially that e-ID has biometrical data which you cannot replace like a stolen PIN.
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