AI regulation in Switzerland: laws & policy (2026)

Legal framework

Sector-specific laws (FADP, FINMA Guidance 08/2024); Council of Europe Framework Convention on AI (signed March 2025, ratification pending); targeted legislative amendments under preparation (consultation draft by end-2026)

Key points: artificial intelligence in Switzerland

1. 01No Swiss AI Act

   On 12 February 2025 the Federal Council formally decided against enacting a general cross-sector AI law. The policy prioritises three objectives: strengthening Switzerland as an innovation hub, protecting fundamental rights, and building public trust through sector-specific rules and non-binding measures rather than a sweeping regulation.

   admin.ch news.admin.ch

2. 02Council of Europe AI Convention Signed

   Switzerland signed the Council of Europe's Framework Convention on Artificial Intelligence and Human Rights, Democracy and the Rule of Law (STCE No. 225) in Strasbourg on 27 March 2025. Ratification requires parliamentary approval and may be subject to a public referendum.

   coe.int news.admin.ch

3. 03Legislative Consultation Draft by End-2026

   FDJP (with DETEC and FDFA) is to submit a legislative consultation draft by end-2026 implementing the CoE Convention through measures on transparency, data protection, non-discrimination, and oversight. A parallel non-binding implementation plan covering industry voluntary commitments is also due by end-2026.

   admin.ch

4. 04FADP Directly Applicable to AI

   The Federal Data Protection Commissioner (FDPIC) confirmed in May 2025 that the revised Federal Data Protection Act (FADP), in force since 1 September 2023, is directly applicable to AI systems processing personal data. Data subjects retain rights to transparency and to request human review of automated individual decisions.

   edoeb.admin.ch edoeb.admin.ch

5. 05FINMA AI Governance Guidance (Finance Sector)

   FINMA issued Guidance 08/2024 (December 2024) applying existing governance, risk-management, and outsourcing duties to AI use by supervised financial institutions, without creating new substantive law. A FINMA survey published April 2025 found approximately half of ~400 supervised institutions already deploy AI.

   pestalozzilaw.com

6. 06EU AI Act Extraterritorial Exposure

   Despite not adopting the EU AI Act, Swiss companies placing AI systems or general-purpose AI models on the EU market are subject to it. Providers of GPAI models must appoint an EU-authorised representative by 2 August 2025, creating a compliance obligation independent of Switzerland's domestic approach.

   lenzstaehelin.com cdbf.ch

Timeline of decisions

1. 24 Apr 2025Decision · official
   FINMA survey: ~50% of Swiss financial institutions using AI

   FINMA published results of a survey of ~400 licensed institutions showing around half already deploy AI, with 91% of those using generative AI. The survey found governance structures lagging adoption, with many institutions under-managing model risk, bias, and explainability gaps.

   FINMA

2. 27 Mar 2025Law · official
   Switzerland signs Council of Europe Framework Convention on AI

   Switzerland formally signed CETS No. 225, the world's first legally binding international treaty on AI, in Strasbourg, as announced by the Federal Council on 12 February 2025. Ratification requires parliamentary approval of sector-specific legislative amendments expected in a consultation draft by end-2026.

   Swiss Federal Council (admin.ch)

3. 12 Feb 2025Decision · official
   Federal Council announces lean, sector-specific AI regulatory approach

   After reviewing three governance models, the Federal Council chose not to enact a comprehensive cross-sectoral AI law. Instead, Switzerland will ratify the CoE AI Convention, make targeted sector-specific legislative amendments, and rely on non-binding measures (self-disclosure, industry codes), explicitly rejecting unilateral adoption of the EU AI Act.

   Swiss Federal Council (admin.ch)

4. 18 Dec 2024Guidance · official
   FINMA issues Guidance 08/2024 on AI governance and risk management

   The Swiss Financial Market Supervisory Authority published its first dedicated AI supervisory guidance, clarifying that existing technology-neutral rules on governance, risk management, and outsourcing fully apply to AI use in banking and insurance. It identified model risk, third-party dependency on Big Tech, and lack of explainability as priority supervisory concerns.

   FINMA

5. 5 Sept 2024Law · official
   Council of Europe Framework Convention on AI opens for signature (CETS 225)

   The first binding international AI treaty, covering AI systems' alignment with human rights, democracy, and rule of law, opened for signature. As a Council of Europe member, Switzerland's subsequent decisions on AI governance were directly shaped by this instrument.

   Council of Europe

6. 22 Nov 2023Decision · official
   Federal Council mandates comprehensive AI regulatory assessment

   The Federal Council instructed DETEC (OFCOM) and the Federal Department of Foreign Affairs to prepare an overview of possible AI regulatory approaches for Switzerland by end-2024. This mandate directly triggered the February 2025 policy decision on Switzerland's governance path.

   Swiss Federal Council (admin.ch)

7. 9 Nov 2023Guidance · official
   FDPIC confirms existing data protection law directly applies to AI

   The Federal Data Protection and Information Commissioner (FDPIC/EDÖB) issued a formal update affirming that the newly in-force revFADP, drafted in technology-neutral terms, covers AI-based personal data processing. Providers and users of AI must ensure transparency, purpose limitation, and data-subject rights.

   FDPIC / EDÖB (edoeb.admin.ch)

8. 1 Nov 2020Guidance · official
   Federal Council adopts seven-principle AI Guidelines for the federal administration

   The Federal Council published binding orientation guidelines for federal agencies and bodies using AI, establishing principles of human-centredness, transparency/explainability, fairness, safety, accountability, data protection, and sustainability. These remain the internal governance baseline for AI use within the Confederation.

   SBFI / State Secretariat for Education, Research and Innovation (sbfi.admin.ch)

9. 1 Dec 2019Guidance · official
   Interdepartmental Working Group on AI publishes 'Challenges of Artificial Intelligence' report

   The Federal Council's IDAG AI (under SERI/SBFI) released a 37-priority-action-area report concluding that Switzerland's existing legal framework was broadly adequate for AI but required targeted clarification on transparency, accountability, bias, and sector-specific gaps. This report set the baseline for all subsequent Swiss AI policy deliberation.

   SBFI / State Secretariat for Education, Research and Innovation (sbfi.admin.ch)

10. 1 Jan 2018Decision · official
    Digital Switzerland Strategy establishes federal AI working group (IDAG AI)

    The Federal Council's Digital Switzerland Strategy created an interdepartmental working group on artificial intelligence (IDAG AI) under SERI to coordinate federal AI policy, identify regulatory gaps, and ensure Switzerland's global competitiveness. This body authored the 2019 Challenges report and the 2020 AI Guidelines, anchoring Switzerland's foundational AI governance architecture.

    OFCOM / BAKOM (bakom.admin.ch)

Sources

1. 1.admin.ch/gov/en/start/documentation/media-releases.msg-id-104110.html
2. 2.news.admin.ch/en/nsb?id=104110
3. 3.news.admin.ch/en/nsb?id=104646
4. 4.coe.int/en/web/artificial-intelligence/-/switzerland-signs-the-council-of-eur
5. 5.edoeb.admin.ch/en/update-current-legislation-directly-applicable-ai
6. 6.edoeb.admin.ch/en/ai-and-data-protection
7. 7.pestalozzilaw.com/en/insights/news/legal-insights/finma-guidance-on-governance-and-risk
8. 8.lenzstaehelin.com/news-and-insights/browse-thought-leadership-insights/insights-detail/
9. 9.cdbf.ch/en/1397/