AI Regulation in Switzerland

​This article explains the current regulatory landscape in Switzerland, what is changing in 2025, and what organisations should do to prepare for future requirements.

Switzerland is shaping a distinct approach to the governance of artificial intelligence. While many countries in Europe have introduced comprehensive and centralised legislation, Switzerland continues to pursue a model that prioritises flexibility, innovation, and sector-specific rules. In February 2025, the Swiss Federal Council published its most important policy direction so far, outlining how the country intends to regulate artificial intelligence in the coming years.

 

Switzerland's Regulatory Philosophy: Innovation First and Risk Based

Switzerland has chosen not to adopt the European Union Artificial Intelligence Act. Instead, the Swiss government is creating a governance model that focuses on innovation and on managing risk without introducing unnecessary restrictions. Switzerland's policy direction is guided by three principles:

1. A risk based system aligned with international principles

Switzerland follows global frameworks such as the guidelines of the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development and the Council of Europe's work on the governance of artificial intelligence. These principles are adapted to the national context.

 

2. Sector specific governance

Artificial intelligence is currently regulated through legal instruments that already exist in areas such as data protection, finance, medical products, transport, telecommunications, and consumer protection.

 

3. Protection of Switzerland's position as an innovation leader

Switzerland has been ranked as the most innovative country in Europe according to the European Innovation Scoreboard 2024. The regulatory approach aims to protect this position while ensuring responsible use of artificial intelligence.

 

​Fig 1.0 Switzerland's regulatory philosophy described as innovation first and risk-based

 

Switzerland does not yet have a single artificial intelligence law. Artificial intelligence technologies are regulated through existing legislation and international cooperation. Below are the Key legal instruments that currently apply to artificial intelligence:

• Swiss Federal Act on Data Protection, which regulates the processing of personal data and requires transparency in automated decisions
• Federal Act on Unfair Competition, which covers algorithms that mislead consumers or distort competition
• Financial market regulations issued by the Swiss Financial Market Supervisory Authority for artificial intelligence used in banking and insurance
• Medical product and medical device legislation that applies to artificial intelligence used in clinical or diagnostic systems
• Product safety and product liability rules that apply to connected and sensor based devices
• Telecommunications legislation that is relevant for online platforms and content moderation systems

 

​Fig 2.0 Key Legal Instruments Relevant to Artificial Intelligence in Switzerland

 

International participation

Switzerland supports international cooperation by ratifying the Council of Europe Framework Convention on Artificial Intelligence, continuing its active participation in the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development and maintaining cooperation with the European Union on digital governance, even though it is not integrating the European Union Artificial Intelligence Act. The result is a system that regulates artificial intelligence through its impact and risk level, rather than through a single horizontal law.

 

Major Developments in Switzerland

Switzerland has introduced several important governance measures in 2025 that strengthen oversight of artificial intelligence while preserving the country's innovation-focused regulatory model.

A. New rules for digital platforms

In 2025, Switzerland is introducing new legislation for large digital platforms that use artificial intelligence for content ranking, recommendations, and user profiling. Key requirements include:

• Stronger measures to detect and manage disinformation and deepfakes
• Transparency regarding how recommendation systems select and present content
• User rights related to personalised content and algorithmic choices
• Clear duties for platforms regarding algorithmic harms and online safety
• Enforcement for platforms offering services in Switzerland, even if they are headquartered abroad

These rules represent one of the most direct Swiss interventions in artificial intelligence oversight to date.

 

B. Autonomous vehicles: controlled deployment authorised in 2025

In March 2025, the Swiss government allowed autonomous vehicles to operate on selected motorway segments. This represents a structured and risk based expansion of automated mobility. Requirements include:

• Human supervision for all autonomous operations
• Continuous external monitoring of technical functions
• Comprehensive safety documentation
• Strict restrictions on routes, weather conditions, and use cases

This example demonstrates Switzerland's preference for targeted regulation instead of broad restrictions.

 

Practical Compliance Expectations for Organisations

Even without one central artificial intelligence law, regulators in Switzerland expect strong governance and accountability. The following are practical compliance expectations for organisations:

1) Artificial intelligence risk assessment

Organisations should perform:

• Risk assessments before deploying systems
• Continuous monitoring during the entire lifecycle
• Clear documentation of training data, algorithms, and limitations
• Logging and audit trails for accountability

 

2) Protection of fundamental rights

Switzerland places strong emphasis on the rights of individuals, including:

• Impact assessments for systems that influence access to services or affect people's rights
• Human involvement in decisions that have legal or significant effects
• Transparency for automated decision making
• Compliance with all data protection requirements during development and deployment

 

3) Obligations for cross border operations

The European Union Artificial Intelligence Act applies to any organisation that offers artificial intelligence systems within the European Union. This means that Swiss companies operating in European Union markets must comply with European Union obligations even though Switzerland is not adopting the Act. This includes:

• Classification of artificial intelligence into risk categories
• Technical documentation and conformity assessments
• Logging, transparency obligations, and lifecycle monitoring

The dual regulatory environment requires careful planning for international operations.

 

The Swiss Artificial Intelligence Initiative and Sector Leadership

Switzerland is investing heavily in the creation of high quality, domain specific artificial intelligence tools through the Swiss Artificial Intelligence Initiative. Focus areas include:

• Healthcare and pharmaceutical research
• Financial services risk modelling
• Climate modelling and environmental research
• Robotics and precision manufacturing

This strategy reinforces Switzerland's intention to lead in sectors where reliability, precision, and safety are essential.

 

What to Expect Next

Switzerland is preparing the ground for future artificial intelligence legislation that will build on existing sectoral rules and the Council of Europe Framework Convention on Artificial Intelligence. Switzerland is laying the foundation for more structured artificial intelligence governance that will build on existing sector specific rules and the Council of Europe Framework Convention on Artificial Intelligence. In the coming years, organisations can expect a gradual expansion of requirements, including the introduction of more coordinated national legislation on artificial intelligence, stronger transparency and accountability obligations, more detailed rules for high impact and rights sensitive systems, increased alignment with international standards, and enhanced oversight tools for regulators. These developments are expected to evolve progressively as Switzerland refines its approach to responsible artificial intelligence governance.

 

Preparing for Artificial Intelligence Governance in Switzerland

Organisations should begin strengthening their governance systems now. Key actions include:

• Creating an inventory of all artificial intelligence systems
• Implementing internal governance frameworks aligned with international standards such as ISO and the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development
• Ensuring clear documentation, transparency, and human oversight mechanisms
• Training teams in artificial intelligence governance and regulatory obligations
• Monitoring developments in Swiss and European Union legislation on an ongoing basis

Nemko Digital offers governance, risk assessment, and compliance services to support organisations operating in this evolving regulatory environment. Get in touch with us today for your AI Compliance.