In its decision of 9 December 2011, the Federal Council instructed the Federal Department of Foreign Affairs (FDFA) to draft an amendment to the Federal Act of 24 March 2000 on the Processing of Personal Data within the FDFA which would also cover Swiss citizens abroad and the processing of their personal data required by the FDFA when providing assistance abroad (consular services, consular protection, etc.).
In the deliberations leading up to and following the Federal Council's decision of 9 December 2011, it emerged that the law would have to be completely overhauled if the FDFA were to be able to process the data needed to perform all its tasks.
This draft federal bill is therefore a complete revision of the existing legislation and fulfils the mandate set out by the Federal Council. It does not aim to change the activities carried out by the FDFA. Rather, the goal is to produce a modern legislative tool that can address recent developments, particularly in terms of technology, and to facilitate as much as possible any legislative adjustments that may subsequently become necessary.
Draft bill for a federal act on the processing of personal data by the FDFA (de)(pdf, 72kb)
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FDFA Information
+41 58 462 31 53
info@eda.admin.ch
