Federal government wants to better evaluate and reuse collected data
Published: Friday, Dec 8th 2023, 15:01
Updated At: Friday, Dec 8th 2023, 15:01
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In Switzerland, the government wants to make better and, above all, multiple use of collected data in future. The Federal Council adopted a corresponding package of measures on Friday. This includes a new central contact point at the Federal Chancellery.
The Federal Council announced that this is set to begin operations at the end of 2024. The department, which is expected to cost around CHF 1.4 million per year and is called "Data Ecosystem Switzerland", will reportedly be responsible for setting up data rooms, i.e. data collections on sectors such as health, agriculture, energy, mobility, foreign policy, agriculture and tourism. It also aims to provide society, the economy, science and administrations with better access to data.
Overall, the Federal Council sees "great potential" for society in the linking of data. The multiple use of data should also make Switzerland more responsive in crises.
Legal basis until 2026
"Data generates the most value when it can be used and combined for a wide variety of applications," the Federal Council stated. For example, data from the areas of education, tourism and migration could be used to gain insights into the implementation of measures for the shortage of skilled workers in the hospitality industry. The government instructed the Department of Justice to develop a legal basis for the secondary use of data by the end of 2026.
The Federal Council is thus implementing a motion by the Committee for Science, Education and Culture in the Council of States. The committee was of the opinion that many technical foundations existed in Switzerland. However, the regulatory framework was lagging behind.
Questions about security
As a rule, data collections immediately raise questions about security and the protection of personal rights. The Federal Council is also aware of this. It therefore wants to define rules on how the data may be used. It has adopted a code of conduct. This is a recommendation for the Federal Administration, but is not legally binding. Other players from the private sector, academia, civil society and business could also be guided by it.
Confidence-building principles are needed, the Federal Council stated. "Digital self-determination" is a basic prerequisite. Users should be able to trust a data room and retain control over their data. According to the Federal Council, they should be able to decide for themselves which data they share with whom, for what purpose and for how long.
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