e-ID: a secure solution, but a risk of bureaucratization

Although the Swiss e-ID solution approved by a narrow majority of voters on Sunday is not very centralized and guarantees privacy, it does entail a risk that should be prevented, for example by means of another vote.

This Sunday, the Swiss voted by a narrow majority (50.4%) in favor of introducing a Swiss e-ID system, an electronic identity designed to simplify administrative procedures and digital interactions. This solution offers solid guarantees for privacy: certificates remain on citizens« telephones, the Confederation has no access to personal data, and »lightened" certificates make it possible to limit the information shared (for example, proving one's age without revealing one's name). What's more, the system is not very centralized. In fact, each organization manages its own certificates, which limits the risks in the event of piracy.

Overall, then, this project has many strong points. However, two weak points remain. Firstly, the centralization of the main «e-ID» certificate by the Federal Office of Police (Fedpol), which will attract hackers like bears to a honeypot. Secondly, the dependence on the Confederation's servers to validate the certificates. So, while it looks promising, what impact will this electronic identity service have on our lives?

A secure tool that can become unhealthy

This is not the first time that a formerly material process has been digitized. We can therefore look at the consequences of previous similar examples. The fact is, the easier a bureaucratic procedure becomes, the more excessive it can become.

E-forms« certainly simplify our lives, but above all they enable us to create many more complex ones. And it's not just the public sector that's affected. How many times a week do we have to fill in a form to reserve a seat at a show, order food at a restaurant or even use the building's washing machines? We can also talk about the simplicity of online or card payments, which make transactions painless. Would citizens accept the level of taxes levied by these payment solutions if they had to go to the counter with their wad of bills in hand?

Read also | «Berne can hardly estimate the effects of tax reform».»

With a swiyu, With the Swiss Confederation's e-ID wallet and other electronic proofs, both the public and private sectors will be able to create as many certificates for as many uses as they can imagine. The Confederation mentions the certificate of majority, with pornographic sites in its sights. Will we also have to log on with this certification to access social networks? And will we need another certificate of «conformed thought» to be able to publish texts there? Will we need «moderate polluter» certification to fill up our tanks? Do we need to have «regular sportsman» insurance to order dessert?

While this e-ID provides solid technical guarantees for privacy and security, it also opens the door to a society in which every act in life will have to be certified, as is the case with the proliferation of e-forms. At the same time as the system is set up, its use must be strictly limited. Why not hold a second vote on a project to enshrine these limits in the Constitution? Before taking the beast out of its cage, it's best to attach a leash.

Developer with a passion for technology, François Jolain is the host of the Codable.tv platform.

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