Switzerland: Swiss Federal Chancellery published Popular Initiative for Protection of Fundamental Rights and Democracy in Digital Space (Internet Initiative)

On 2 March 2026, the Swiss Federal Chancellery announced the federal popular initiative "For the Protection of Fundamental Rights and Democracy in the Digital Space (Internet Initiative)". The initiative seeks to amend the Federal Constitution by adding Article 93a, which mandates the federal government to establish regulations safeguarding fundamental rights and democratic processes within digital environments. It would address providers of communication platforms, search engines, and systems generating content through automated or artificial intelligence-based technologies. The proposal specifies obligations for these entities to protect individuals from fundamental rights violations and to prevent the dissemination of content involving sexualised violence or the glorification and incitement of violence. Additionally, the initiative aims to mitigate systemic risks associated with the manipulation of democratic decision-making, specifically addressing disinformation and algorithmic amplification. The federal government would be responsible for regulating the underlying procedures and supervising providers' compliance. Following this preliminary examination, the initiative committee is authorised to collect the required 100'000 signatures by 3 September 2027 to bring the proposal to a national vote. The validity of the initiative will be formally assessed by the Federal Assembly after the signature collection phase is complete.