{"slug":"switzerland","name":"Switzerland","short_name":"Switzerland","iso_code":"CH","jurisdiction_type":"country","region":"Europe","subregion":"Western Europe","overview":"Switzerland is outside the EU and does not apply the AI Act. In February 2025 the Federal Council decided its approach: ratify the Council of Europe Framework Convention on AI, make targeted sector-specific legal changes (transparency, data protection, non-discrimination) rather than a horizontal AI law, and rely on non-binding measures such as industry self-regulation; a consultation draft was due by the end of 2026. The 2020 guidelines on AI for the Federal Administration and the Competence Network for AI (CNAI) guide public-sector use.","regulatory_status_summary":"No horizontal AI law; Federal Council approach (2025): Council of Europe convention plus sector rules; federal AI guidelines (2020).","binding_vs_guidance":"Binding: none recorded. Strategy or guidance: Federal Council AI regulatory approach (2025); Guidelines on AI for the Federal Administration (2020).","current_priorities":"Drafting the ratification and sector-law package, transparency and data-protection rules for AI, CNAI coordination.","regulators":[{"name":"Federal Office of Communications (OFCOM)","url":"https://www.bakom.admin.ch/","role":"Lead office for the AI regulatory approach"},{"name":"Federal Data Protection and Information Commissioner (FDPIC)","url":"https://www.edoeb.admin.ch/en","role":"Data-protection authority; guidance on AI and the FADP"}],"official_sources":[{"title":"Federal Council wants to ratify the Council of Europe Convention on AI (press release, 12 February 2025)","publisher":"Swiss Federal Council","url":"https://www.admin.ch/gov/en/start/documentation/media-releases.msg-id-104110.html","document_date":"2025-02-12","document_type":"press_release","tier":1}],"related_jurisdictions":["eu","germany","france","austria","council-of-europe"],"url":"https://aipolicytracker.org/jurisdictions/switzerland","source":{"official_source_url":"https://www.admin.ch/gov/en/start/documentation/media-releases.msg-id-104110.html","source_title":"Federal Council wants to ratify the Council of Europe Convention on AI (press release, 12 February 2025)","source_publisher":"Swiss Federal Council","source_document_date":"2025-02-12","source_reference":null,"source_tier":1,"last_checked_at":"2026-09-26","last_verified_at":"2026-09-26","review_status":"verified","confidence_level":"medium","content_version":1,"change_summary":"Added in the September 2026 global coverage expansion; overview composed from the listed instruments and official sources. Reviewer to confirm regulators and status.","reviewed_by":"Bhaskar Bhatt"},"policies":[{"slug":"switzerland-federal-council-ai-regulatory-approach-2025","id":"AIPT-POL-0181","permanent_url":"https://aipolicytracker.org/id/AIPT-POL-0181","title":"Federal Council decision on the regulation of artificial intelligence: ratification of the Council of Europe Convention and sector-specific adjustments","short_title":"Federal Council AI regulatory approach (2025)","jurisdiction":"switzerland","instrument_type":"policy","status":"adopted","is_binding":false,"ai_specific":true,"issuing_body":"Swiss Federal Council","summary_plain":"On 12 February 2025 the Federal Council decided how Switzerland will regulate AI: it will ratify the Council of Europe Framework Convention on AI and implement it mainly through targeted changes to existing law where needed (for example transparency, data protection and non-discrimination), avoid a horizontal AI act, and complement legislation with non-binding measures such as self-regulation and agreements with industry. Federal departments were tasked to prepare a consultation draft by the end of 2026.","adopted_on":"2025-02-12","in_force_on":null,"applies_from":null,"official_source_url":"https://www.admin.ch/gov/en/start/documentation/media-releases.msg-id-104110.html","last_verified_at":"2026-09-26","reviewed_by":"Bhaskar Bhatt","content_version":1,"review_status":"verified","confidence_level":"high","updated_at":"2026-10-15T06:46:24+00:00","url":"https://aipolicytracker.org/policies/switzerland-federal-council-ai-regulatory-approach-2025"},{"slug":"switzerland-guidelines-on-ai-for-the-federal-administration-2020","id":"AIPT-POL-0182","permanent_url":"https://aipolicytracker.org/id/AIPT-POL-0182","title":"Leitlinien \"Künstliche Intelligenz\" für den Bund","short_title":"Guidelines on AI for the Federal Administration (2020)","jurisdiction":"switzerland","instrument_type":"guidance","status":"guidance","is_binding":false,"ai_specific":true,"issuing_body":"Swiss Federal Council","summary_plain":"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.","adopted_on":"2020-11-25","in_force_on":null,"applies_from":null,"official_source_url":"https://www.bakom.admin.ch/","last_verified_at":"2026-09-26","reviewed_by":"Bhaskar Bhatt","content_version":1,"review_status":"verified","confidence_level":"medium","updated_at":"2026-10-15T06:46:24+00:00","url":"https://aipolicytracker.org/policies/switzerland-guidelines-on-ai-for-the-federal-administration-2020"}]}