IT law

With the recently launched consultation procedure on the new Federal Act on Communication Platforms and Search Engines, the Federal Council aims to require major online platforms and search engines such as Google, Facebook, TikTok and X to ensure greater fairness, transparency and user rights. Users are to be better protected in the future—from reporting and complaint procedures to clear information requirements and greater data and advertising transparency. This is a historic step toward regulating digital infrastructure in Switzerland.

Cookies make surfing the web easier, save settings and enable targeted advertising. At the same time, they raise significant data protection issues. In his latest guidelines, the Federal Data Protection and Information Commissioner (FDPIC) has specified the requirements that companies and website operators must observe when using cookies in Switzerland. The main focus is on consent requirements, tracking and the processing principles of the Data Protection Act (DPA). Which cookies are still permitted, when explicit consent is required and what requirements are placed on consent banners - we clarify the most important questions.

The FDPIC has published a leaflet that sheds light on the often unclear handling of patient forms in terms of data protection law – from the duty to provide information and secure data communication to proportionate data collection. We show what doctors, therapists and associations should now specifically check and implement.

Private website and app providers are facing a paradigm shift: with the partial revision of the Disability Discrimination Act (DDA), digital accessibility is also coming into focus as a legal obligation. Those who fail to make their online offerings accessible today risk legal disputes in the future. This article shows what companies can expect, what requirements apply, and how to systematically implement them in web and app projects.

Access to the EU single market opens up great opportunities for Swiss companies, but it also brings with it a multitude of regulatory requirements. Whether it's product safety, CE marking, data protection (GDPR), artificial intelligence (AI), sustainability reports (ESG) or industry-specific guidelines: anyone who wants to operate in the EU needs to know which regulations apply.

A prenuptial agreement is much more than a legal precautionary document – it is a key instrument for securing assets, especially for entrepreneurs, heirs and wealthy individuals. The statutory matrimonial property regime of participation in acquired property may often suffice, but it quickly reveals its limitations in the event of separation or divorce. Economic interests, family obligations and emotional tensions can then easily come into conflict.

What previously required extensive studies and years (if not decades) of research has now become reality within a very short time: artificial intelligence (AI) has independently developed a new antibiotic against multi-resistant germs, without any human assistance or lengthy clinical trials. The media response in medical research was correspondingly huge. Is this a turning point in research?

Although many pension funds have implemented initial measures, key obligations such as procedure directories divided into procedures in accordance with the BVG obligation and private insurance, processing directories, data protection impact assessments and clear responsibilities are still incomplete in some cases. The EDÖB is increasing its vigilance in view of new risks. Read here to find out what needs to be done and how you can ensure legal compliance.