Debate has been going on for many months about examining newcomers’ smartphones and computers when carrying out background checks and verifying identities. Advocates of the measure insist that it could be a useful tool, as many arrive in Switzerland without any documents, while opponents argue that this is a violation of privacy.
The State Political Commission of the Swiss National Council has started working on legal changes that would allow the migration authorities to seize information from smartphones and other data storage devices belonging to people seeking asylum in Switzerland. The move was proposed by Swiss lawmaker Gregor Rutz.