DSI submits consultation response on new platform legislation
An interdisciplinary team at the University of Zurich has prepared and submitted a statement on the proposed Federal Act on Communication Platforms and Search Engines as part of the Digital Society Initiative's (DSI) fourth Strategy Lab.
The DSI has participated in the consultation process on the new federal law on communication platforms and search engines. The statement was drafted by an interdisciplinary core team from the fields of computer science, law, ethics, political science, and communication studies, and was submitted on February 16, 2026. It was developed as part of the fourth DSI Strategy Lab on disinformation, which has been examining the regulation of digital platforms, among other topics, through events and workshops since 2024. The process was led by the Center for Information Technology, Society, and Law (ITSL), which organised a preparatory workshop and a public evening event in January 2026, followed by a retreat in early February to draft the response.
The consultation response identifies several key shortcomings in the draft legislation. First, it criticises the scope as being too narrow: rather than only covering platforms used by at least 10 per cent of the population, the team proposes a tiered system of obligations for small, medium-sized, and large providers – modelled on the European Digital Services Act. In addition, the statement calls for the proposed reporting mechanism to apply to all unlawful content, not just hate speech. Furthermore, the draft lacks provisions for the protection of children and young people, which the authors consider urgently needed in light of recent developments such as the spread of AI-generated abuse imagery.
Further information
- The full consultation response (in German) is available for download here: Consultation response (PDF, 149 KB)
- More about the fourth DSI Strategy Lab «Disinformation» can be found here: Link