Transparency and Freedom of Information

¶ 5. Freedom of Information and Document Archiving

¶ Platform Migration of Media Releases

In April 2025, the Federal Administration migrated its media release platform from admin.ch to news.admin.ch (developed by Swisscom). The old URLs in the format admin.ch/.../medienmitteilungen.msg-id-XXXXX.html have since returned HTTP 202 and are no longer directly accessible. However, the content remains available on the new platform:

• Type decision (30.06.2021): news.admin.ch/de/nsb?id=84275 (old URL msg-id-84275 -> HTTP 202)
• Contract signing (19.09.2022): news.admin.ch/de/nsb?id=90403 (old URL msg-id-90403 -> HTTP 202)

¶ Legal Framework

Regardless of the platform change, the following legal bases apply to official media releases:

• Media releases meet the criteria of an "official document" under Art. 5 FoIA
• The right of access under Art. 6 para. 1 FoIA requires permanent accessibility
• Art. 6 ArchA mandates a compulsory obligation to offer records to the Federal Archives
• Art. 180 para. 2 Federal Constitution: Duty of the Federal Council to inform

The FDPIC oversees the freedom of information principle. The Swiss Web Archive of the National Library serves as supplementary safeguarding.

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