Guidelines on AI for the Federal Administration (2020): requirements, deadlines and compliance actions
Leitlinien "Künstliche Intelligenz" für den Bund
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On this page 7 sections
In brief
Guidelines on AI for the Federal Administration (2020) is a non-binding guidance of Switzerland, issued by the Swiss Federal Council. Its current status is guidance. Applies to the federal administration of Switzerland when it develops, procures or uses AI systems; cantons and private organisations are not bound.
- Jurisdiction
- Switzerland
- Instrument type
- Guidance
- Status
- Guidance
- Legal force
- Non-binding (guidance, strategy or standard)
- Issuing body
- Swiss Federal Council
- Adopted
- 25 November 2020
- Official source
- Guidelines on artificial intelligence for the Confederation
- Verification
- Verified against the official source 26 Sep 2026
What is Guidelines on AI for the Federal Administration (2020)?
Adopted in November 2020, seven guidelines steer the use of AI by the federal administration: putting people at the centre, conditions for development and use, transparency and explainability, accountability, security, active participation in AI governance, and involvement of stakeholders.
Who does it apply to?
Applies to the federal administration of Switzerland when it develops, procures or uses AI systems; cantons and private organisations are not bound.
- Sectors
- Cross-sector / all sectors
- AI use cases
- AI in public services
When do the requirements apply?
Dates are taken from the linked official source; a reviewer should confirm in-force and application dates before relying on them.
Official sources
-
Guidelines on artificial intelligence for the Confederation
Swiss Federal Council · 25 Nov 2020 · Tier 1 source
Cite this record
AIPolicyTracker (2026). “Guidelines on AI for the Federal Administration (2020)” [AIPT-POL-0182, record version 1, verified 26 September 2026 by Bhaskar Bhatt]. https://aipolicytracker.org/id/AIPT-POL-0182 (accessed 27 October 2026). Data licensed CC BY 4.0.
Permanent id AIPT-POL-0182: it never changes or gets reused, and its address keeps working if this page moves.
Cite the official text alongside it: Guidelines on artificial intelligence for the Confederation, Swiss Federal Council, https://www.bakom.admin.ch/.
BibTeX
@misc{aipolicytracker2026_guidelinesonaiforthefede,
author = {{AIPolicyTracker}},
title = {{Guidelines on AI for the Federal Administration (2020)}},
year = {2026},
howpublished = {\url{https://aipolicytracker.org/policies/switzerland-guidelines-on-ai-for-the-federal-administration-2020}},
url = {https://aipolicytracker.org/policies/switzerland-guidelines-on-ai-for-the-federal-administration-2020},
urldate = {2026-10-27},
note = {Data licensed CC BY 4.0. Accessed 27 October 2026}
}
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Record history
No change to this record's tracked fields has been recorded since 15 October 2026, when field-level history began.
Record version 1: Added in the September 2026 global coverage expansion from the official source listed; reviewer to confirm dates, status and scope against the source text. Every earlier wording is in the GitHub repository.
Frequently asked questions
Is Guidelines on AI for the Federal Administration (2020) in force?
Guidelines on AI for the Federal Administration (2020) has the status "guidance"; it is not a binding law in force.
Is Guidelines on AI for the Federal Administration (2020) legally binding?
No. Guidelines on AI for the Federal Administration (2020) is a guidance; it sets expectations rather than legal requirements, unless another instrument gives it force.
Who does Guidelines on AI for the Federal Administration (2020) apply to?
Applies to the federal administration of Switzerland when it develops, procures or uses AI systems; cantons and private organisations are not bound.
Where is the official text of Guidelines on AI for the Federal Administration (2020)?
The official text is published by Swiss Federal Council at https://www.bakom.admin.ch/ (Guidelines on artificial intelligence for the Confederation). This record links to it and is checked against it.
Disclaimer: informational only, not legal advice. Verify every claim against the linked official sources and consult a qualified lawyer before acting.