Biometrics in Russia will remain voluntary. This was stated by Vladislav Svyatik, Deputy General Director of the Center for Biometric Technologies (CBT, operator of the state Unified Biometric System), at the “Digital Solutions” forum in Moscow.
According to the law, we have voluntary registration of biometric data, and according to the law, we have alternative services, meaning that those services provided using biometrics can also be provided to citizens without biometrics.
According to Svyatik, the country has launched more than 20 biometric services in segments such as public services, transport, retail, and finance. The CBT will not stop there and intends to attract new users by providing “convenient seamless services,” he concluded.
The Unified Biometric System (EBS) was developed on the initiative of the Russian Ministry of Digital Development and the Central Bank. The platform launched in June 2018, and was granted state status in 2021.
Since December 2022, after the adoption of Federal Law No. 572-FZ, the processing of biometric data began to be regulated in Russia. Citizens have the right to refuse its collection or withdraw consent for previously placed data. To do this, they need to submit a corresponding application to any convenient MFC.