The regulation in Switzerland of online platforms, such as Google, Facebook, YouTube and X, is always long overdue. Two years ago, the Federal Council ordered a preliminary draft on this subject. On Wednesday, he once again postponed any decision.
While the Swiss population is increasingly online, the Federal Council believes that it must have more rights in the face of large platforms, such as Google, Facebook or YouTube, which are deemed to be not very transparent. Not to mention the position of weakness in which internet users are sometimes found, for example when blocking their account or the deletion of content.
The government has thus requested a regulation project for March 2024, inspired by the “Digital Services Act” of the European Union, applied in the meantime to all digital players since February 2024, in order to better supervise these digital actors.
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If the case was on the agenda of the Federal Council on Wednesday, the file was once again postponed. Discussions underway with the United States about customs duties would be the cause of this new postponement, according to several sources.
Report on postponement
The case was on the agenda of the Federal Council on Wednesday, the acting spokesperson for the Federal Council Ursula Eggenberger said in Keystone-ATS. But the file has once again been postponed. The discussions underway with the United States about customs duties would be the cause of this new postponement, as pointed out to Keystone-ATS several well-informed sources.
The Federal Departments of the Economy (DEFR) and Foreign Affairs (DFAE) would not want to offend US President Donald Trump. Contacted by Keystone-ATS, they said they did not rule, since the sessions of the Federal Council are confidential.
Delay criticized
This delay annoys. Several parliamentarians have positioned themselves in the media in favor of regulation. On Wednesday, in a statement, the youth section of the center said it was “disappointed”, accusing the Federal Council of “bowking before Trump” instead of protecting the youth, democracy and the rights of citizens.
The previous week, the FRC called on the government to “take action urgently”, denouncing an inaction in the face of the harmful practices of platforms, such as the massive and opaque data collection or the sale of dangerous or non -compliant products.
In February, the Algorithmwatch CH organization, which is committed so that algorithms and artificial intelligence strengthen justice, democracy, fundamental rights and sustainability instead of weakening them, also criticized the government for letting digital giants influence public debate impunity to “maximize their profits,” she communicated.
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