Subj : Switzerland tells its government agencies they must use open sour
To   : All
From : TechnologyDaily
Date : Thu Jul 25 2024 11:30:05

Switzerland tells its government agencies they must use open source software

Date:
Thu, 25 Jul 2024 10:25:00 +0000

Description:
Government agencies in Switzerland are required to use open source data and 
to adopt an open by default approach.

FULL STORY
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In an effort to improve digital transparency and efficiency, Switzerland has 
enacted the Federal Law on the Use of Electronic Means for the Fulfillment of 
Government Tasks (EMBAG), which mandates the use of open source software in 
the public sector. 

The new law requires public agencies to disclose the source code of software 
developed by or for them, with exceptions only allowed for third-party rights 
or security concerns. 

The EMBAG legislation adopts the public money, public code idea, aiming to 
enhance transparency, security and efficiency within the countrys 
governmental operations. Swiss government mandates the use of OSS 

This point has been a long time coming the work started back in 2011 then the 
Swiss Federal Supereme Court published its court application. More than a 
decade of legal battles saw the law finally passed in 2023. 

Professor Dr Matthias Strmer, head of the Institute for Public Sector 
Transformation at the Bern University of Applied Sciences, recognized the law 
as a significant opportunity for not only the government and society, but 
also the IT industry. 

Strmer believes the mandatory use of open source software will also prevent 
vendor lock-in, which has been an ongoing debate in the European Union in 
recent months. This could potentially lower IT costs while improving services 
for taxpayers. 

The EMBAG also mandates the release of non-personal and 
non-security-sensitive government data as part of an open by default 
approach. 

Although Switzerland may not be a member of the European Union, nor the 
European Economic Area, its views mirror those of many neighbouring 
countries, including France, whose National Gendarmerie uses Linux-based PCs. 

Via ZDNET More from TechRadar Pro Check out the best productivity tools 
around today Weve rounded up a list of the best laptops for programmers US 
government warns key open source programs aren't sufficiently protected



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Link to news story:
https://www.techradar.com/pro/switzerland-tells-its-government-agencies-they-m
ust-use-open-source-software


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