The Guy Parmelin Department of Economy has also insisted that the regulations were postponed.Image: keystone
On Wednesday, the Federal Council initially planned to discuss the regulation of platforms such as Google, Youtube or X. However, the decision was postponed Sine Die to calm the American government.
17.04.2025, 11:4917.04.2025, 11:49
Communication platforms such as Google, Facebook, X or Youtube should be regulated by law in Switzerland. The Federal Council discussed it at its meeting on Wednesday. Result: the decision has been postponed to a date not yet defined, reports the Daily Anzeiger.
According to the daily, it is especially the Department of Economy led by Guy Parmelin and the Department of Foreign Affairs of Ignazio Cassis who insisted for this postponement. The reason invoked is the tense situation with the United States.
More security for users
The regulation would have been beneficial for users. For example, operators should have provided contact and a legal representative in Switzerland. It was also planned to create a conciliation service and facilitate the signaling of violent threats and content.
Overall, Switzerland wishes to align itself with the European Union. Since 2022 has established a law to protect users from illicit content and disinformation since 2022. In the event of non-compliance, operators incur fines. In Switzerland, the platforms would not have been sanctioned directly but should have examined the reports received.
-The United States threaten the EU
The decision of the Federal Council has already been postponed several times. The introduction of the EU law has notably been strongly criticized by the United States government. In February, vice-president JD Vance threatened to take countermeasures. You might as well submit to an unjust foreign authority without discussing.
In Switzerland too, some critical voices had raised against the introduction of these regulations. For UDC national councilor Franz Grüter, these mean censorship. Conversely, PS national councilor Jon Pult, who had supported the initiative, expresses his disappointment at the hesitation of the Federal Council. He referred to the Swiss legend of Guillaume Tell, evoking the symbol of forced submission to an external power by declaring:
“We could also salute the Gessler hat”
Jon counter (PS/GR)
Last week, just before US President Donald Trump suspended most of the customs duties for 90 days, the president of the Confederation, Karin Keller-Sutter, had a telephone interview with Trump. Next week, she will meet the secretary of the American Treasury, Scott Bessent, in Washington. Guy Parmelin as well as Martin Schlegel, president of the Swiss National Bank, will also participate in the meeting of the International Monetary Fund.
Translated and adapted by Noëline Flippe
