Parliament backs digitalization of the justice system
Published: Tuesday, Sep 10th 2024, 12:00
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In future, all parties involved in judicial proceedings should be able to exchange information with the courts, public prosecutors' offices and prison authorities via a secure platform. Parliament agrees with this in principle.
On Tuesday, the Council of States adopted the Federal Act on Platforms for Electronic Communication in the Judiciary (BEKJ) by 37 votes to 2, with 3 abstentions.
The majority of the Legal Affairs Committee (RK-S) supported the bill. The Council of States adopted the amendments it proposed. The bill will therefore return to the National Council.
A minority rejected the bill. Pirmin Schwander (SVP/SZ) criticized the fact that the construction of parallel systems would be made possible. Compatibility is never certain. In addition, the cantons could build the system on their own. "They should bear the risk themselves."
Beat Rieder (center/VS) pointed out that there was no freedom of choice between tried-and-tested paper and digital correspondence. And the protection of sensitive documents from hackers must be very high. The promises made in terms of data protection must be kept.
According to the Federal Council's dispatch, the BEKJ is intended to lay the foundations for end-to-end digital judicial procedures. Electronic communication is to become mandatory for courts, authorities and the legal profession. However, the cantons are to have the option of setting up their own platforms.
The development of the new national communication platform will cost around CHF 28 million. The federal government wants to set up the new digital service with the cantons and contribute 25 percent. The operating and further development costs of around CHF 7.4 million per year are to be financed through fees.
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