SwissSign: First Swiss Company Using Online ID Verification

SwissSign, the provider of the SwissID Sign signature solution, is the first Swiss company to rely on a fully digital identification process, allowing signatories to sign with qualified electronic signatures in accordance with the Swiss Federal Act on Electronic Signatures (ESigA). Customers can now conclude transactions as part of an entirely digital process, around the clock and in just a few simple steps using the SwissID Sign signature solution.

The Swiss legislature has permitted online identification verification since 15 March 2022 for signing with qualified electronic signatures. Under the previous requirements, signatories needed to have their identity verified in person (i.e. on site at a selected identification point) before being able to use a qualified electronic signature.

SwissSign is the first company in Switzerland to complete the online identification certification process successfully. The SwissID Sign signature solution can now be used to sign documents digitally, without the need for in-person identification and therefore without any media discontinuity whatsoever. For users (especially business customers), this cuts costs considerably, as administrative efforts are reduced significantly. Both processes (online identity verification and digital sig-nature) can be completed easily using the SwissID App. The only requirement is that the signatory has a personal SwissID account.

Jürg Graf, CEO of SwissSign, commented: ‘We are delighted to be the first Swiss company to successfully obtain the certification. Online identity verification is a nationwide innovation that permits genuine end-to-end digitalisation of processes. What’s more, signatories can have their identities verified online around the clock. This new procedure greatly enhances efficiency, especially for business customers who rely on our integration solutions.’

PXL Vision technology for real-time identification

For the identification process, SwissSign relies on PXL Vision’s Swiss technology, based on an end-to-end approach without media discontinuity. The procedure relies on biometrics, a smartphone camera and near-field communication technology (NFC) to check that an official identity document is authentic. This ensures that the document is an original issued by the Swiss Confederation. Users then record a short video of themselves to confirm that a real person is carrying out the process and to demonstrate that they are the person shown in the passport. ‘We are very proud that we can meet the new legislation’s stringent security requirements with our technology and thus support SwissSign with its online identification process,’ explained Michael Born, CEO of PXL Vision AG.

Media contact:
Diane Illi, Marketing & Communications Manager SwissSign AG
Email: pr@swisssign.com

About SwissSign
SwissSign is a Swiss Post data security specialist. SwissSign has two cornerstones: identity ser-vices under the brand SwissID and certificate services under the brand SwissSign. SwissID is the digital identity of Switzerland, enabling simple and secure access to the online world. Using the digital signature ‘SwissID Sign’ allows legally valid online conclusion of business. Thanks to electronic certificates, data can be exchanged in encrypted form and therefore protected against unauthorised access. As a Swiss trust service provider (TSP), SwissSign protects all data ac-cording to the highest security standards while keeping it in Switzerland.