By Swiss Info
The Swiss government has presented plans for the introduction of a digital identity for citizens to facilitate administrative processes.
Justice Minister Karin Keller-Sutter said the proposed official digital identity would make life easier and speed up public services while taking into account concerns about data security.
The planned e-ID will remain optional and be free of charge, and citizens will continue to be hold analogue versions of ID cards, she told a news conference on Wednesday.
The draft project, which will now be put to consultation among political parties, organizations and institutions ahead of discussions in parliament, foresees that the state will be responsible for issuing the e-ID and its infrastructure.
However, there are no immediate plans to link the e-ID with long-term projects to introduce e-voting External link or the electronic collection of signatures for peopleâs initiatives and referendums, according to the justice ministry.