Computer Science and Computer Use in Public Administration in Switzerland (1960-1984) – Ricky Wichum

Abstract:

In my presentation, I examine the digital culture of public administration in Switzerland from 1960 to 1990. The perspective on Switzerland is significant for the history of computing because the country lacks its own computer industry, but has an internationally well-connected computer science department at ETH Zurich. As I will demonstrate, numerous formal and informal interactions took place between ETH’s computer science department and government agencies, which significantly influenced both sides’ work with computers.

This presentation focuses on debates about data protection in Switzerland during the mid-1970s. I argue that data protection can be seen as a trading zone between academic computer science and administrative computer use. Despite their different interests, both sides agree to cooperate for a time. While the administration was eager to avoid federal laws and relied on the data protection mechanisms of the computer itself (and the computer scientists who promoted trust in the computer with public data), the academics used the bureaucratic routines of data processing and data protection as inspiration for teaching and research in the newly established discipline. Finally, I would like to speculate on whether elements of a political theory of digital societies can be found in the administrative knowledge of computer science.

This event is part of our winter term 2025/26 Lecture Series Digital Complexity: Beyond Human Understanding.

If you would like to attend, please register with events@khk.rwth-aachen.de.