Failed, but not off the table
The referendum against the Federal Act on the Surveillance of Postal and Telecommunications Traffic, or Büpf for short, does not go ahead. But the "surveillance" issue is not off the table.
The Stop-Büpf Committee had to announce yesterday that "only" 45,240 certified signatures could be submitted to the Federal Chancellery. This means that 4760 votes against the surveillance of postal and telecommunications traffic (Büpf) are missing.
Politically explosive topics are on the agenda
Despite the failed referendum, the "surveillance" issue is not off the table. In September, the electorate must vote on the Intelligence Act decide. In addition, the consultation process for the Revision of the Data Protection Act (FADP). With the FADP revision, the Federal Council wants to create the conditions for Switzerland to ratify the modernized Council of Europe Convention for the Protection of Individuals with regard to Automatic Processing of Personal Data and, to the extent necessary in the context of the further development of the Schengen/Dublin acquis, to adopt the EU data protection decrees.
Furthermore, according to Swicowhich supported the Büpf referendum, a case against data retention is still pending before the Federal Administrative Court. Throughout Europe, but also in the United States, the constant tightening of surveillance of innocent citizens is increasingly viewed critically and resistance to it is spreading from civil society, the association emphasizes. (rs)
