Alcohol and tobacco, which are on the list of goods that a buyer can only purchase with age verification, may soon be controlled by biometrics. Vladislav Povolotsky, CEO of the Center for Biometric Technologies (CBT), said in an interview with Izvestia that there are plans to launch a service for the sale of such products with verification via biometrics by 2024.
Using this option requires a confirmed digital profile of the citizen and the provision of information to the Unified Biometric System (UBS). Although retailers are showing interest in the innovation, the need to reconfigure systems may delay implementation. A CBT representative claims that facial recognition is a safe and promising technology. However, until the public gains confidence in biometric methods, the introduction of the service will remain uncommon.
According to the CEO of CBT, the ability to confirm age in stores using biometric data will be available to citizens who provide their data to the UBS. Povolotsky stressed that even simplified biometrics will be sufficient to use the service [take a selfie in the "Gosuslugi Biometrics" application and confirm the account on the state portal. - note www1.ru], in addition, it is also necessary to have a confirmed digital profile.
At the end of 2023, Russia will have an infrastructure for the "Digital Profile" that will ensure the exchange of information between the state, citizens and legal entities. Commercial organizations, including banks, will also have access to this system. The "Digital Profile" will allow citizens to view complete information about themselves on the public services portal, as well as simplify the provision of state and social services.
Technological capabilities for payment and age verification are already equipped in a significant part of retail outlets, facilitating the process of making purchases through facial recognition. Since 2021, the Perekrestok and Pyaterochka chains in Russia have been providing the ability to pay for purchases using facial recognition via the "Pay with a Smile" service from Sberbank. In addition, facial payment is being tested jointly with the Bank of Russia, NSPK (operator of the fast payment system) and CBT, but it is still limited to a closed group.
The main advantage of using biometrics in stores is the creation of a flawless service for paying for goods. For example, to buy alcohol or nicotine-containing products, instead of presenting a passport, one glance at the camera will be enough.
Today, there are already several projects in Russia that allow you to pay for purchases through facial recognition. However, this technology has not yet become widespread, as consumers have not yet developed a purchasing habit of using biometric data.
As a reminder, a law regulating the processing of biometric personal data exclusively within the Unified Biometric System (UBS) came into force on June 1. According to the law, banks and other organizations that had biometric data of clients at their disposal had to transfer everything to the UBS by the beginning of November. Russian citizens can refuse to transfer their biometric data to the system, even if it has already been transferred.