20 million Russians will get access to biometric services

The authorities will expand access to biometric services for citizens, the office of Deputy Prime Minister Dmitry Grigorenko told Izvestia. The government has agreed on an order from the Ministry of Finance that will allow the use of facial and voice casts previously collected by banks in a Single Biometric System (EBS).

Personal payment: in the Russian Federation they want to allow online sale of 18+ products using biometrics

This will affect fireworks, energy drinks, and books for adults, but it is unlikely to extend to alcohol and tobacco.

"As a result of the changes, about 20 million samples will be classified as standard biometrics. In other words, 20 million more people will have access to a wide range of biometric services, in addition to the people already registered in the system," a source close to the government told Izvestia.

Due to this, citizens with imported biometrics will be able to access contactless payment for purchases and transportation without re-registration, use biometrics instead of a pass (BioSCUD), as well as eSIM and fan card registration, Dmitry Grigorenko's office emphasized.

So far, more than 6 million people have independently registered with the EBS, the Center for Biometric Technologies (CBT) clarified. Thus, as a result of the changes, biometric services will be available to 26 million Russians, which is almost one in five residents of the country.