Executive Summary

On 10 February 2026, the Advisory Board Digital Switzerland discussed measures for implementing the Council of Europe Convention on Artificial Intelligence. The focus was on voluntary commitments, ethics codes and standards from industries such as media and energy. Federal Councillor Albert Rösti emphasized the balance between transparency, innovation and fundamental rights protection. The approach combines legal foundations with short-term implementable, non-binding measures.

Persons

Topics

  • Artificial Intelligence (AI) Regulation
  • Self-regulation and Industry Codes
  • Transparency and Traceability
  • Fundamental Rights Protection
  • Digital Transformation Switzerland

Clarus Lead

Switzerland is intensifying the implementation of the Council of Europe Convention on Artificial Intelligence signed in March 2025 through a dual-track approach: On the one hand, the federal government is developing legal foundations, on the other hand it is promoting short-term implementable self-regulation measures. This is relevant for decision-makers as it shows how Switzerland wants to combine regulatory stability with innovative scope. The focus on transparency and traceability addresses central public trust questions regarding AI systems.

Detailed Summary

The board meeting brought together representatives from politics, business, science and civil society to develop concrete implementation pathways for the AI Convention. The focus was on sector-specific approaches: The media industry and energy industry presented considerations on self-regulation that can serve as vehicles for faster implementation. This pragmatic approach recognizes that formal legislative procedures typically take several years.

Federal Councillor Rösti outlined three core principles for AI governance: First, AI systems must provide transparency and traceability to build trust. Second, there is a need for space for innovation and economic development. Third, the protection of fundamental rights must not be compromised. This balance between regulation and freedom was consensus among participants, who welcomed the combined approach of binding legal norms and voluntary standards.

The strategy follows the pattern of the Swiss Tripartite Platform for digital governance and addresses AI as a cross-cutting issue affecting multiple industries and policy areas.

Key Statements

  • Switzerland is implementing the Council of Europe AI Convention through a hybrid approach: legal foundations + voluntary industry measures
  • Transparency and traceability are central to public trust in AI systems
  • Voluntary commitments and ethics codes enable faster implementation than formal legislation
  • Fundamental rights protection remains non-negotiable, but innovation should not be hindered
  • The Advisory Board Digital Switzerland functions as a coordination body for digitalization issues with a multi-year perspective

Critical Questions

  1. Evidence/Data Quality: What empirical data shows that voluntary commitments and ethics codes actually lead to better AI governance compared to binding regulations?

  2. Conflicts of Interest: How is it ensured that industry codes do not primarily protect economic interests instead of prioritizing fundamental rights and data protection? Who monitors compliance?

  3. Causality/Alternatives: Why was the hybrid approach (voluntary + legal) determined to be optimal? Were alternatives such as a strict regulatory-first approach systematically evaluated?

  4. Feasibility/Risks: What concrete measures are already planned or in progress? What timeline and resources are allocated for developing legal foundations, and what risks arise from delays?

  5. Fundamental Rights Protection: How is the balance between innovation and fundamental rights protection operationalized when industry codes are not legally binding?

  6. Stakeholder Representation: Were representatives from data protection, labor rights and civil society adequately represented, or did the business perspective dominate?

Sources

Primary Source: Advisory Board Digital Switzerland: Measures for Implementing the Council of Europe AI Convention – Press Release of the Federal Office of Communication, 10.02.2026

Supplementary Sources:

  1. Switzerland Signs Council of Europe AI Convention (Press Release of 26.3.2025)
  2. Digital Switzerland Strategy – Federal Council
  3. Swiss Tripartite Platform for Digital Governance and Artificial Intelligence

Verification Status: ✓ 10.02.2026

This text was created with the support of an AI model. Editorial Responsibility: clarus.news | Fact-Check: 10.02.2026