A previous proposal, which would have allowed private companies to manage Swiss citizens' data, was shot down in a 2021 referendum. A committee opposing the federal government’s introduction of the e-ID has submitted over 63,000 signatures last week, paving the way for a referendum on the initiative. The vote is expected to take place in September at the earliest. This is the second time that the country is facing a referendum on introducing a digital identity. A previous proposal, which would have allowed private companies to manage Swiss citizens’ data, was shot down in a 2021 referendum. The new, government-made digital ID system promises to give users more control over data. The 100 million francs (US$113.3 million) system is set to be introduced in 2026. However, some political parties are not convinced that the project will protect privacy and data.