"Securing trust is an ongoing task": How Switzerland's digital administration creates trust

Digital Administration Switzerland (DVS ) coordinates digitalisation between the federal government, cantons and municipalities - a complex task in a federal system. What experiences characterise your view of digital trust and where do you personally see the greatest challenge?

My view of digital trust is characterised by the introduction of basic infrastructures such as the planned e-ID and the already widely used AGOV public authority log-in, as well as the federal coordination between the Confederation, cantons and municipalities. This shows that trust is not only created through technology, but also through clear processes, communication and consistent user guidance. I see the biggest challenge as not only creating a basis of trust, but also not losing it. Securing and strengthening trust is an ongoing task for the administration.

The DPS is pursuing a nationwide approach with its 2024-2027 strategy. How important is digital trust in this strategy and what specific measures is the DPS taking to actively strengthen the public's trust in digital administrative services?

Digital trust is central to the "Digital Administration Switzerland 2024-2027" strategy, because without trust, neither the use nor the impact of digital services will materialise. The DPS aims to specifically strengthen trust in digital government services on three levels: technically through interoperable standards, secure infrastructures and verifiable identities; organisationally through clear governance, coordinated implementation between the Confederation, cantons and municipalities and transparent processes; and on the user side through comprehensible, transparent and inclusive services. For the future, it seems important to simplify digital administrative processes, create processes without media discontinuity and strengthen data protection in order to further increase trust in the systems. These are the findings of the National eGovernment Study 2025.

The SATW factsheet cites fragmented responsibilities and a lack of binding standards as key weaknesses. Do you share this view and, if so, how does the DMS deal with this challenge? What concrete improvements have been made in recent years?

The assessment is correct: fragmentation and a lack of binding standards were key hurdles. The DVS is consistently addressing this and is specifically developing in the direction of greater commitment, with a stronger focus on standardisation and architecture. In concrete terms, this means that standards are not only developed jointly, but are increasingly binding. Architectural specifications create clear guidelines for interoperable solutions.

The roadmap in the factsheet envisages a fully interoperable trust infrastructure by 2030. Is this goal realistic and compatible with the priorities of the DSS? What will it take for Switzerland to actually achieve it?

The goal is ambitious, but fundamentally compatible with the priorities of the DSS. The most comprehensive interoperability of the trust infrastructure possible by 2030 can only be achieved if there is a consistent focus on commitment, standards and common basic infrastructures and all players - the federal government, cantons and municipalities - play their part.