Switzerland has taken decisive steps forward in developing its national electronic identity (E-ID) infrastructure, with the Federal Council announcing key technical specifications and implementation plans during a recent Participation Meeting. The latest development follows the country’s which established the groundwork for a citizen-centric identity system.
The Council has selected DID:webvh as the method for Decentralized Identifiers (DIDs), enabling citizens to maintain control over their digital identifiers without depending on centralized authorities. This approach supports cross-platform verification and interoperability, complementing broader European efforts to create interoperable digital identity systems.
The implementation will use a VC-based Trust Protocol incorporating Verifiable Credentials (VCs), which provide cryptographically secured digital credentials from authorized issuers. For credential formatting, the system will employ SD-JWT (Selective Disclosure JSON Web Token) technology, allowing users to share specific identity attributes while maintaining the privacy of other information. This technology choice mirrors approaches being tested in other European initiatives, including .
The technical framework includes OpenID4VCI for credential issuance and OpenID4VP for verification processes, establishing standardized protocols for secure communication between all parties in the identity ecosystem. These protocols, which are also being implemented in the facilitate the delivery of credentials to users’ wallets and enable secure presentation to verifying parties.
The Federal Electronic Wallet, branded as SWIYU, will serve as the primary platform for Swiss citizens to manage their E-IDs and associated credentials. The digital wallet emphasizes user-friendly design while maintaining robust security standards and compatibility with various use cases, building on lessons learned from similar implementations across Europe.
Implementation will proceed through multiple phases, beginning with the launch of a public beta environment called “PLAYGROUND” in Q1 2025. This testing infrastructure will allow potential issuers and verifiers to evaluate the system’s capabilities. A parallel BetaID program will enable practical integration testing with real-world applications.
The development roadmap includes a pre-release environment focused on specific Proof of Concepts, such as the eLFA (learner’s driving license Verifiable Credential), before transitioning to full production deployment. The systematic approach incorporates comprehensive testing phases while implementing modern technical standards and privacy-preserving protocols.
The initiative represents Switzerland’s implementation of decentralized digital identity infrastructure, incorporating international standards for secure and verifiable digital credentials while maintaining user privacy and control over personal information.
Source: LinkedIn
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