Internet

Among other things, domain names make it possible to assign a unique address to every website. These names, such as ofcom.ch, are currently used very often, primarily for accessing websites or sending e-mails. Traditional extensions, such as .ch or .com, will be augmented by new top level domain names related to brands or geographic names. In this context, the Confederation has set a strategy which seeks to protect the country’s public interest in relation to the management of domain names. Furthermore, it has acquired the extension .swiss from ICANN (Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers). The registration of .swiss domain names is possible since autumn 2015.

Since 1 January 2021, the open internet in Switzerland has been regulated by Article 12e of the Telecommunications Act (TCA).

Under certain conditions, the registries for the “.ch” and “.swiss” domain are required to block domain names suspected of being used for phishing, for the distribution of harmful software ("malware") or to support such activities.

The applicable law does not always give a clear indication of the criminal responsibility of internet providers. According to the recommendation of an expert commission which was put out for consultation by the Federal Council, such responsibility should be explicitly regulated in the Criminal Code and in the Military Criminal Code. At the end of February 2008, however, the Federal Council decided against new provisions as the existing general regulation of criminal responsibility is sufficient for internet communication issues.

The Swiss Internet Governance Forum (Swiss IGF) brings together stakeholders from politics, government, business, academia and civil society across Switzerland for open, equal and interactive discussions on pressing issues around digitalisation, including artificial intelligence, data governance, cybersecurity and protecting fundamental rights in the digital age. The Swiss IGF aims to contribute to the open development of the internet for everyone’s benefit.

The IoT is the networking of objects over the internet, such as, for example, industrial machines, cars, TVs and washing machines. Billions of "intelligent objects" are being created as a result of this networking and the ever-increasing proliferation of sensors in (everyday) objects. However, a standard definition of the IoT has not yet been adopted by the various participants involved.

From September 1, 2021, anyone with Internet access will be able to measure its quality using a standardized tool. All the major Swiss ISPs offer this tool to their customers. In Switzerland there is now a relevant instrument for determining the quality of Internet access.