What is a public consultation in the Swiss federal system?

A public consultation is the process by which the Federal Government collects feedback from citizens, cantons, associations and stakeholders before finally approving an ordinance or law. Anyone can participate by submitting written comments by the deadline. In the case of orders on video surveillance in transport, the deadline is 26 November 2026.

What are OOSI and OVsor-TP?

OOSI (RS 745.21) is the ordinance on the safety organs of public transport undertakings. OVsor-TP (RS 742.147.2) is the ordinance on video surveillance in public transport. The first will be modified, the second totally revised to regulate the use of body cameras and image and sound recording devices in Swiss public transport.

What are bodycams in the context of public transport?

Bodycams are handheld cameras worn by security personnel or drivers to record video and audio during the work shift. They serve to document accidents, assaults, or antisocial behavior within public transport, providing legal protection to both workers and transport companies.

Who can participate in the consultation?

All: Swiss citizens, workers, cantons, municipalities, public transport operators, trade unions, associations, and privacy experts. You do not need to have an official qualification. Simply submit written comments by 26 November 2026 via the admin.ch portal.

When will this law come into effect?

The entry into force is not yet specified in the communiqué of 27 August 2026. It will depend on the completion of the consultation, the changes made by the Federal Government to the texts of the ordinances, and the timing of technical implementation by public transport operators.

Transport Ordinances: open consultation on video surveillance (cross-border guide)

Di Redazione Frontaliere Ticino · Published on 27 August 2026

Swiss train station with passengers and digital information displays

Public consultation from 26 August to 26 November 2026 for two federal ordinances on video surveillance and bodycam in Swiss public transport.

Context

In a nutshell

Federal consultation open: 26 August – 26 November 2026
Changes to OOSI and OVsor-TP ordinances to regulate bodycam in transport
Open participation in Cantons, operators, citizens and associations
Following the approval of the Buffat motion by the National Council and the States

Key facts

What: Consultation on changes to OOSI and OVsor-TP ordinances for video surveillance in public transport
When: 26 August – 26 November 2026
Where: Federal Department of Environment, Transport, Energy and Communications
Who: Swiss Government, followed by Buffat motion (23.4291)
Ordinances: OOSI (RS 745.21) amendment; OVsor-TP (RS 742.147.2) total revision

On 27 August 2026 the Swiss Government opened the public consultation to amend two central ordinances on safety and video surveillance in public transport. The decision comes after the approval of the Buffat motion (23.4291) by the National Council and the Council of States.

There are two ordinances involved. The first is the ordinance on the security organs of public transport undertakings (OOSI, RS 745.21), which will need to be amended. The second is the ordinance on video surveillance in public transport (OVsor-TP, RS 742.147.2), which will undergo a total review. The aim is to create the regulatory basis for the lawful use of video surveillance systems, including mobile devices intended for the recording of images and sounds — such as body cameras.

The

Operational details

Practical implications for users and workers

Video surveillance in Swiss public transport is nothing new — many buses, trams and stations already have fixed cameras. However, the new legislation aims to regulate and expand the use of portable devices (bodycam) carried by security personnel or drivers. This opens up concrete questions about public safety and privacy protection in the daily transport of millions of users.

Swiss public transport users — students, workers, the elderly and occasional users — will notice an increase in the presence of video and audio recording inside the vehicles. Bodycams are particularly useful in situations of tension, aggression or antisocial behaviour. Audio and video recording provides evidence in the event of accidents or conflicts between passengers, between passengers and staff, or between workers and third parties.

Privacy and data protection

At the same time, the new legislation must ensure compliance with the Federal Data Protection Act (DPA). Switzerland has strict privacy standards: the collection of images and sounds in public spaces — including in transport — must respect the principle of proportionality. This means that cameras and bodycams can only record if necessary for specific security reasons, not for generalised mass surveillance. The revision of the OVsor-TP must reconcile the need for safety of

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Key points

Participating in the Consultation

The federal consultation remains open until 26 November 2026. Anyone wishing to provide feedback on the reform of the OOSI and OVsor-TP ordinances can participate. You do not need to be an official institution: Swiss citizens, workers, sector operators, and associations all have the right to submit written comments.

For those who wish to participate, the first step is to consult the official website of the Swiss Federal Government (admin.ch), where the proposed ordinances and participation procedures are published. The consultation portal accepts contributions in the form of PDF documents, letters, or structured comments.

Who Should Participate

The stakeholder groups that the Federal Government expects to be involved include public transport operators (SBB, cantonal and municipal public transport companies), trade unions representing security and driver personnel, associations protecting digital rights and privacy, cantons and municipalities managing local transport, and passenger associations.

Timeline of the Reform

After the consultation closes on 26 November 2026, the Federal Government will have several months to analyze the feedback and finalize the ordinances. The effective date is not yet specified in the 27 August 2026 announcement: it will depend on the subsequent legislative process and the implementation timeline by public transport operators in the territory.

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Frequently Asked Questions

What is a public consultation in the Swiss federal system?: A public consultation is the process by which the Federal Government collects feedback from citizens, cantons, associations and stakeholders before finally approving an ordinance or law. Anyone can participate by submitting written comments by the deadline. In the case of orders on video surveillance in transport, the deadline is 26 November 2026.
What are OOSI and OVsor-TP?: OOSI (RS 745.21) is the ordinance on the safety organs of public transport undertakings. OVsor-TP (RS 742.147.2) is the ordinance on video surveillance in public transport. The first will be modified, the second totally revised to regulate the use of body cameras and image and sound recording devices in Swiss public transport.
What are bodycams in the context of public transport?: Bodycams are handheld cameras worn by security personnel or drivers to record video and audio during the work shift. They serve to document accidents, assaults, or antisocial behavior within public transport, providing legal protection to both workers and transport companies.
Who can participate in the consultation?: All: Swiss citizens, workers, cantons, municipalities, public transport operators, trade unions, associations, and privacy experts. You do not need to have an official qualification. Simply submit written comments by 26 November 2026 via the admin.ch portal.
When will this law come into effect?: The entry into force is not yet specified in the communiqué of 27 August 2026. It will depend on the completion of the consultation, the changes made by the Federal Government to the texts of the ordinances, and the timing of technical implementation by public transport operators.