Switzerland mandates government agencies use open-source software

Switzerland has enacted a law mandating the use of open-source software (OSS) by government agencies and requiring the publication of any software code developed for the public sector under open-source licenses. This initiative, part of the "Federal Law on the Use of Electronic Means for the Fulfillment of Government Tasks" (EMBAG), aims to enhance transparency, security, and efficiency in government operations. The law stipulates that the source code must be released unless restricted by third-party rights or security concerns. Additionally, it mandates the release of non-personal and non-security-sensitive government data, promoting an "open by default" approach to governance.

This move aligns with similar trends across Europe, where countries like France and Germany have adopted OSS in various government functions. For instance, France's National Gendarmerie primarily uses Linux, and Schleswig-Holstein in Germany has transitioned thousands of computers from Microsoft to Linux and LibreOffice. The European Union has also been involved in enhancing OSS security through initiatives like the Free and Open Source Software Auditing (FOSSA) project. In contrast, the U.S. government supports OSS to a lesser extent, with no laws mandating its use, although some policies encourage the release of a portion of custom-developed code as OSS. If successful, Switzerland's approach could serve as a model for other nations considering similar reforms.