Neuchâtel enshrines the right to digital integrity
Published: Sunday, Nov 24th 2024, 15:40
Retour au fil d'actualité
In the canton of Neuchâtel, the right to the digital integrity of citizens has been enshrined in the cantonal constitution. The electorate approved a corresponding bill on Sunday with an overwhelming majority of 91.51%.
40,817 Neuchâtel residents voted Yes, 3789 voted No. The turnout was 28.74 percent, according to the State Chancellery
Neuchâtel is one of the first cantons to recognize such a right. The pioneer in this area was Geneva, which was the first canton to enshrine a fundamental right to digital integrity in its constitution in 2023. Similar plans are well advanced in other western Swiss cantons such as Jura, Vaud and Neuchâtel.
In Zurich, the Pirate Party submitted an initiative with sufficient signatures to the canton last August. A vote is likely to take place in the next few years.
Digital integrity generally refers to the undisturbed existence of a person in the digital world. This should be protected in the same way as physical and mental integrity. Specifically, it is about protection against data misuse, security on the internet or the right to be forgotten.
Broad acceptance
The EDU was the only party to call for the text to be rejected. Its president told Arcinfo that he was by no means against increased protection for citizens on the internet, but that the EDU was opposed to digital integrity being equated with physical or psychological integrity.
During the vote in the Grand Council in spring, the FDP and some Green Liberal MPs had also spoken out against the constitutional amendment or abstained from voting. The cantonal parliament approved the law with 66 votes in favor, 29 against and 3 abstentions.
©Keystone/SDA
French 
English 
German 
Spanish 
Arabic