Under the government of Russia, a coordinating council for the development of digital identification technologies for biometrics will be formed, the corresponding decree was signed by Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin.
According to the document published on the portal of legal information, the council is a permanent body that determines the directions for the development of biometric technologies in the Russian Federation, develops proposals for their improvement, and also provides non-discriminatory access to the services of the Unified State Biometrics System (UBS).
The council, approved by the government, includes representatives of the Presidential Administration of the Russian Federation, the Ministry of Digital Transformation, the Federal Security Service, Roskomnadzor, Rostelecom, the Center for Biometric Technologies and the Bank of Russia.
The EBS was established in 2018 at the initiative of the Ministry of Communications and Mass Media (successor – Ministry of Digital Development) and the Bank of Russia. Rostelecom was appointed its operator. Now you can take biometrics – a cast of your face and voice – only in person at a bank branch or MFC. Scenarios for using the system were originally tailored for the banking sector and provided for the possibility of opening a bank account or obtaining a loan.
On December 29, Russian President Vladimir Putin signed a law banning the forced collection of biometric data of Russians, as well as any discrimination against those who refused to surrender it. Refusal to submit biometrics can be issued in writing through any branch of the MFC. Citizens who do not want to provide biometric data will not be able to be denied services, including state and municipal services, any discrimination or denial of services in connection with this will be punished.