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Switzerland Preparing Legislation to Ratify Council of Europe AI Convention by End 2026

Switzerland signed the Council of Europe Framework Convention on AI in March 2025. The Federal Department of Justice and Police (FDJP), together with DETEC and the FDFA, is preparing a consultation draft of implementing legislation due by the end of 2026.

The draft legislation will define necessary legal measures particularly in the areas of transparency, data protection, non-discrimination and supervision. The ratification will be subject to a public consultation process and then submitted to Parliament, with potential referendum.

Switzerland has deliberately opted not to adopt an EU AI Act-style general AI law. Instead, the government will adapt national law to the Council of Europe Convention framework — a lighter, principle-based approach.

By the end of 2026, authorities will also develop measures (binding and non-binding) in sensitive areas such as healthcare and autonomous transport.

Score impact: Dim 10 remains 1 — sector-specific governance continues; the Convention ratification process does not yet establish a unified AI authority. The consultation draft, once published, may shift this score.