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Switzerland votes against electronic ID system provided by private companies

swissinfo.ch

251–260 of 423 posts

Re: Switzerland votes against electronic ID system provided by private companies

#251
post #70
post #8

Quite a few people who voted against this did so purely because they didn’t want private companies controlling the system. If the proposal had been for the government to issue and control the identities, it may well have passed.

In Sweden we have a company running the ID system and that works fine. The company is coowned by all the large banks afaik. I was really surprised at how far behind Switzerland is compared to Scandinavia when it comes to digitalisation. Being able to handle my life hassle free online instead of going to physical places (like post office, banks, gov office) is liberating. I also get all my bills digitally and all my r…

Actually, we have several. BankID is the most well known, but there is also Freja eID.

Re: Switzerland votes against electronic ID system provided by private companies

#252
post #74

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Which makes a lot of sense in Switzerland, since "the government is the people" is more true than in the overwhelming majority of countries on Earth. Pragmatic take from the Swiss as usual :) (said by a jealous French citizen)

AFAIK, Switzerland is the only country with direct democracy or ‘Govt is the people’. As you said overwhelming majority, are there any countries that have direct democracy or come close?

[deleted]

Re: Switzerland votes against electronic ID system provided by private companies

#253
post #70
post #8

Quite a few people who voted against this did so purely because they didn’t want private companies controlling the system. If the proposal had been for the government to issue and control the identities, it may well have passed.

In Sweden we have a company running the ID system and that works fine. The company is coowned by all the large banks afaik. I was really surprised at how far behind Switzerland is compared to Scandinavia when it comes to digitalisation. Being able to handle my life hassle free online instead of going to physical places (like post office, banks, gov office) is liberating. I also get all my bills digitally and all my r…

> I also get all my bills digitally

So do I. In Switzerland.

Re: Switzerland votes against electronic ID system provided by private companies

#254
post #247
post #36

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Imagine if you had to print a paper form and mail or deliver it to the local Government for even the simplest of administrative tasks. Because that is life in Switzerland.

I extended the deadline for my 2020 tax declaration today (Zurich). I did so by scanning a QR code, entering my email address for the confirmation, and clicking send.

Anecdotal, but in SG I recently had to submit ~20 pages of documentation for a permit. Obviously I don't have a printer so this was annoying in itself. Once I took those printed pages to the Rathaus they just scanned all the documents anyway.

Maybe ZH does things better, but I still feel like it's a shame there is not more standardisation. I understand why politically this is difficult though with the independence of the cantons.

Re: Switzerland votes against electronic ID system provided by private companies

#255
post #229

Earlier quoted context omitted.

What's wrong with banning a backwards custom that limits women's rights?

Let's stop a backwards custom that is practiced by 30 people with a backwards law that limit's clothing choices for seven Million people.

I'm friends with a few Muslim women and can assure you that it has nothing to do with choice.

Re: Switzerland votes against electronic ID system provided by private companies

#256
post #70
post #8

Quite a few people who voted against this did so purely because they didn’t want private companies controlling the system. If the proposal had been for the government to issue and control the identities, it may well have passed.

In Sweden we have a company running the ID system and that works fine. The company is coowned by all the large banks afaik. I was really surprised at how far behind Switzerland is compared to Scandinavia when it comes to digitalisation. Being able to handle my life hassle free online instead of going to physical places (like post office, banks, gov office) is liberating. I also get all my bills digitally and all my r…

Are you willing to give up your privacy to corporates to be liberated online?

Re: Switzerland votes against electronic ID system provided by private companies

#257
post #249

Earlier quoted context omitted.

How can you so sure that your ideal is how they should live? What I admire about the Swiss is how they live and let live - they may disagree with the neighbour, but let them be.

Why am I not surprised that HN is a place to find people who argue against women's right to vote.

HN is very diverse :) But we all argue in good faith and are willing to yield to reason

Re: Switzerland votes against electronic ID system provided by private companies

#258
post #70

Earlier quoted context omitted.

In Sweden we have a company running the ID system and that works fine. The company is coowned by all the large banks afaik. I was really surprised at how far behind Switzerland is compared to Scandinavia when it comes to digitalisation. Being able to handle my life hassle free online instead of going to physical places (like post office, banks, gov office) is liberating. I also get all my bills digitally and all my r…

As a US citizen, being able to go to various physical places without being forced to patronize an opaque, unaccountable corporate behemoth owned by a conglomeration of banks that centrally tracks everything I do, every penny I spend, and what and where I spend it on is liberating.

[deleted]

Re: Switzerland votes against electronic ID system provided by private companies

#259

Earlier quoted context omitted.

It does not seem like such a terrible idea if it is government run to me. But it depends on having trust in the checks and balances implemented in your system of governance.

It's fine if a majority of the people can overrule a political policy by a referendum. It's not fine if the government was like the US or China.

[deleted]

Re: Switzerland votes against electronic ID system provided by private companies

#260
post #135
post #70

Earlier quoted context omitted.

In Sweden we have a company running the ID system and that works fine. The company is coowned by all the large banks afaik. I was really surprised at how far behind Switzerland is compared to Scandinavia when it comes to digitalisation. Being able to handle my life hassle free online instead of going to physical places (like post office, banks, gov office) is liberating. I also get all my bills digitally and all my r…

If you think that's bad, look at the UK. They had a government-ID system with an ID card, and then they scrapped it. Now people run around using driver's licenses and municipal bills (I guess) to open bank accounts and other things. Utterly backwards. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Identity_Documents_Act_2010 I've been formulating my thinking around it and I'm starting to think that this is some sort of new-age "luddi…

What did the Goverment ID offer over a drivers license? Here in bc Canada drivers license is sufficient ID most places, and if you don’t drive you get bc Id which is just a drivers license without the driving part.
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