It does not surprise me. And there has been a legal response: In Switzerland, identity misuse has been a criminal offense since 2023, and the forthcoming e-ID Act will lay the foundations for a secure digital identity issued by the state. At the same time, the EU eIDAS 2.0 regulation requires member states to provide e-ID wallets for their citizens. Both are scheduled to be implemented in 2026.

We need technology solutions that give us security so that we can trust our virtual counterparts. These must comply with both Swiss and European guidelines, as national borders will have little impact when it comes to digital identities and proofs of identity. Over the last year and a half, we have developed a unique product that meets all the requirements for a technology solution and that can be implemented now. Public authorities and businesses should start preparing their systems for the introduction of the e-ID, so that they can take advantage of the benefits immediately.

Using the concept of self-sovereign identity. Digital proofs of identity and verifiable credentials are more than just digital equivalents of physical documents. They contain data known as attributes, which users can share selectively and systematically. They can be used, for example, for secure employee authorization or efficient credit checks. Users keep control over their data and can track which attributes they have shared with whom and when. In contrast to conventional centrally managed systems, information on usage is not passed to third parties.

One of Orell Füssli’s core businesses is security. We have been a trusted partner of governments for many years, helping produce physical trust documents such as banknotes, the Swiss passport and driver’s licenses. Procivis adds digital identities and credentials to the portfolio. We have developed a new, forward-looking software solution that can be used to issue, check and store credentials such as an e-ID, a digital driver’s license or other digital proofs of identity. We provide this software to public authorities and companies.

Most organizations are not familiar with the technicalities of discussions about protocols, formats and standards. So many of them are waiting for the EU or the federal government to make a decision on these aspects. In Procivis One, we have developed our own pioneering solution that is compatible with multiple protocols, complies with current regulations in Switzerland and the EU, and can adapt to future developments. It complies with SSI requirements and ensures data sovereignty for users. Procivis One is already available and can be operated autonomously by our customers offering high performance and scalability for millions of users and types of credentials.

In Switzerland, there are three different levels of requirement: Level 1 is the digital identity itself, level 2 includes state-regulated credentials such as driver’s licenses, criminal record extracts or diplomas, and level 3 covers all other digital credentials such as authorizations and membership cards. The potential uses are practically endless.

I am convinced that institutions that are already preparing for the e-ID in Switzerland and eIDAS 2.0 in the European Union will have a competitive advantage. It is a good idea to consider which processes can be made more efficient or redesigned and the impact this will have on existing IT infrastructure. At the same time, it is important to consider the technological aspects in order to simplify future deployment.