British“Guardian” reported on the 28th, the same day, Swiss voters with 50.4% of the support of a narrow majority of the referendum on the introduction of electronic identity cards. The Swiss government had previously supported the Electronic Identity Card Bill and had won overwhelming support from both Houses of Parliament. However, the opposition to the bill can not guarantee the privacy of the people, after collecting more than 50,000 signatures, to promote the referendum.
In 2021, Switzerland called a referendum on e-id reform, but it failed to pass because of concerns that data would be stored centrally and operated mainly by private companies. The government adjustment plan, focusing on the“Free, voluntary, completely run by the state” characteristics, in response to people’s previous concerns.
The Swiss government says the E-ID card will enable people to verify their identity online and be efficient in accessing government services or proving their age in situations such as buying alcohol. For security purposes, each e-id card is associated with only one smartphone, and the user must re-apply after changing the device. At the same time, people still have the option of using an entity identity card that has been in use for decades.
At the end of the 2026, all EU citizens should be able to have digital wallets, allowing them to store their identity cards, driving licences and the like on online platforms for identification purposes, the report said, easier access to government and private sector services. The digital wallet is currently being tested by nearly 550 public and private companies across Europe. The Swiss government says the introduction of e-id cards will help its economy as a non-eu country to align itself with its neighbours in the area of digital documents.
In addition, the government announced on the 26th September that it would force people working in the UK to use electronic identity cards before 2029 to curb illegal immigration to live and work in the country. Although the government says Britain’s E-ID card will provide“Numerous benefits” to its citizens and is expected to have fewer uses than the Swiss version, it has raised privacy and data security concerns, more than 1.6 million people have signed petitions against the introduction of electronic identity cards. In addition, Oriana Fallaci, leader of the British Reform Party, called the e-id “An anti-british card”, “This move by the Labour government not only does nothing to combat illegal immigration, but also gives the government more power to control the British people,” he said. (Cheung Ching)