The Ministry of Digital Development has denied using the Unified Biometric System (UBS) to search for people and track criminals in Russia. Information about such use of the UBS in the country has appeared in some media outlets. But the Ministry of Digital Development says that this information is "unreliable."
The Ministry of Digital Development "is not considering or discussing" using the system's database for these purposes, as it is "prohibited by law."
The UBS is in no way connected with urban video surveillance systems and cannot be used in operational search activities. The system was developed to increase the availability of services. The voluntariness of their use is also enshrined in law No. 572 on biometrics. No one can force a citizen to use the UBS or deny them services if they do not want to register in the system.
Currently, the UBS is used, in particular, to ensure that banks and other companies more effectively authenticate clients, provide them with remote services and protect them from fraudulent attacks. All organizations that are accredited in the UBS can process information about clients faster, having access to a centralized database with biometric data.
The system can also make a number of other services more accessible. In particular, in Moscow, it is proposed to connect it to pay for public transport, parking, and visits to organizations and cultural sites.
However, the UBS can also be used for monitoring purposes. For example, it is proposed to start using it in Russia by the end of the year to prevent teenagers from buying alcohol and tobacco.
The UBS is planned to be used for security purposes as well: to control foreign citizens throughout Russia. The Ministry of Digital Development has developed a bill according to which a foreigner can buy a SIM card only after registering in the UBS. Already issued SIM cards will need to be re-registered by March 1, 2025, otherwise their owners will no longer be provided with communication services.
Read materials on the topic:
MTS Became the First Mobile Operator in Russia to Work with Clients' Biometric Data