The Swiss Department of Foreign Affairs has unveiled its latest piece of software for monitoring its reputation abroad.

According to newspaper Le Temps, the algorithm tool was originally made for the Israeli secret service, the Mossad.

The software was purchased by Presence Suisse, a subdivision of the department of foreign affairs responsible for promoting a positive image of Switzerland abroad.

The algorithm was originally made by an Italian company at the request of Mossad. It picks up every article written about Switzerland outside of the country, and posted on the internet.

It then analyses whether the coverage is positive of negative.

So far the topics gaining most traction are the Swiss franc, banks, tax and markets.

Presence Suisse ambassador Nicholas Bideau tells Le Temps they will use the software to identify journalists writing the most damaging articles and then invite them to Switzerland to meet with the relevant person, such as a banker or politician, in the concerned domain.