The operator reserves the right, after examination, to “seal” the electronic correspondence (e-mails) of its customers until a court has decided otherwise, the NZZ am Sonntag newspaper reports.
To date, the public prosecutor’s office in Switzerland can access the emails of suspects without the approval of a court. The latest example is the Berset-Lauener affair, which revolves around the suspicion of a breach of official secrecy during the management of the Covid pandemic.
Swisscom had handed over to special investigator Peter Marti the entire private mailbox of Peter Lauener, former head of communications for Interior Minister Alain Berset. It did so while the investigator was working on the Crypto affair, an espionage case.
Too late
Swisscom has now decided to change its practice. The operator will make use of its right to examine and seal its customers’ accounts on its own, as long as a court has not made a binding disclosure decision, according to the newspaper. Swisscom responds to less than ten sensitive disclosure requests from the public prosecutor per year.
Currently, suspects who are asked to disclose their correspondence can only request that it be sealed after the fact, once the e-mails are already in the hands of the public prosecutor. The latter often fails to inform the persons concerned of their rights early enough.
Parliament has recognised the problem by tweaking the Criminal Procedure Code, with the change coming into force in early 2024. According to this reform, investigators will have to actively inform the persons concerned of their right to keep their data “sealed” as soon as they receive confidential documents.
Most Read Swiss Abroad
More
The Swiss Alps, a new Eldorado for real estate developers
As a Swiss Abroad, how do you feel about the emergence of more conservative family policies in some US states?
In recent years several US states have adopted more conservative policies on family issues, abortion and education. As a Swiss citizen living there, how do you view this development?
Swiss army chiefs defend botched procurement projects
This content was published on
Swiss defense Minister and military heads defend against parliamentary and media criticisms of problematic procurement projects.
Swiss cheese exports recorded second-best year in 2024
This content was published on
A total 79,268 tons of Swiss cheese worth CHF748.5 million was exported abroad in 2024 - a 7.9% increase in annual sales from the previous year.
This content was published on
Insects benefit from storm devastation, says a 20-year study by the Swiss Federal Institute for Forest, Snow and Landscape Research.
This content was published on
The parents of the young jihadist who left for Syria to join the Islamic State have been given suspended sentences by the Federal Criminal Court.
This content was published on
Felix Lehner, Pamela Rosenkranz and Miroslav Sik have been awarded the Swiss Grand Award for Art/Prix Meret Oppenheim 2025.
Nearly 2% of new Swiss disability insurance claims involve Long Covid
This content was published on
Just under 2% of new claims submitted to the disability insurance between 2021 and 2023 concern people suffering from Long Covid.
This content was published on
The watch industry had to contend with a weakening of its exports last year, which reached a volume of CHF25.9 billion ($28.5 billion).
If you want to start a conversation about a topic raised in this article or want to report factual errors, email us at english@swissinfo.ch.
Read more
More
Crypto leak: Investigator allowed to investigate investigator
This content was published on
The justice ministry has given a special public prosecutor the green light to open criminal proceedings against another special public prosecutor.
Swiss president remains tight-lipped on ‘Covid leaks’
This content was published on
Alain Berset told his ministerial colleagues on Wednesday that he had no knowledge of leaks from his department to the media.
This content was published on
However, some observers say the battle over access to the copper-cable infrastructure connecting households to the nearest exchange distracts attention from the real issues of the future. In an interview with swissinfo, Professor Matthias Finger of Lausanne’s Federal Institute of Technology says the debate over “unbundling” the last mile is “outdated” and “backward-looking”. Finger, who…
You can find an overview of ongoing debates with our journalists here . Please join us!
If you want to start a conversation about a topic raised in this article or want to report factual errors, email us at english@swissinfo.ch.