Kremlin: Russian citizens’ biometric data to be handed over to security services
The United Biometric System (UBS) that will combine the data collected by various banks to identify their clients will have to cooperate closely with Russia’s security forces, said Russian Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev during a meeting with the head of Rostelecom, Mikhail Oseyevsky.
The UBS that Rostelecom has been developing since 2017 at the initiative of the Ministry of Communications and the Bank of Russia has been operational since 1 July last year, and by 2021 the use of it should become mandatory, the Bank of Russia believes.
The system uses voice and facial recognition to identify people. Rostelecom is responsible for collecting, processing and storing the data in the cloud, and providing banks with access through special interdepartmental communications channels.
“Guarantees of the security of such a cloud are important,” Medvedev reminded Oseyevsky, adding that the intelligence agency’s involvement is necessary to provide such guarantees.
“I hope that you will work on this with colleagues, with the ministry of digital development, with the intelligence agency, simply so that we can understand that everything is really protected against external interference,” the prime minister remarked.
“This is an extremely crucial technological element, which is why Rostelecom is already collaborating with the Federal Security Service (FSB),” Oseyevsky responded.
He added that testing of the biometric systems in government services and the electronic signing of documents will soon begin. Moscow and the Moscow province will be the pilot regions.
“People will not have to go to the government services center. They will be able to identify themselves using their smartphones and receive services that require definite legal identification,” explained Oseyevsky.
He said that it will be convenient, save time, and save people from having to travel.
“We are counting on a law being adopted that will introduce the concept of digital cloud records, and save us from needing to have flash drives with which to sign a whole range of documents. This will be another step forward from a service perspective,” said the head of Rostelecom.