Advocating Openness and the Public Interest

We advocate for a legal and political framework enabling the efficient provision, governance and use of (open) data in the public interest.

Open data by default

The EMBAG/LMETA, a law laying the groundwork for the digital transformation of the Swiss federal administration, took effect at the beginning of 2024. This represents a milestone for Open Government Data (OGD) in Switzerland by introducing the principle of “open by default” for federal data not requiring protection. Other highlights: open source software, open standards, APIs, interoperability platform, pilot projects, initial funding to promote urgently needed digital infrastructures and basic services as well as digitization projects of high public interest.

Accompanying the legislative process from the consultation procedure in 2021 through the parliamentary phase we were able to initiate important improvements to the text of the bill.

To prepare the administration for the entry into force i.e. the end of the transition period in 2027, the Federal Council introduced measures to promote OGD. Having contributed to the Masterplan OGD, we are monitoring its implementation.

Furthermore, we advocate introducing open by default on the cantonal level.