Banks began to send biometric data of clients to the all-Russian system

This, they say, is done for the convenience of citizens.

Banks that had previously collected biometric data of their customers (photo and voice recording) began to notify them that the information received was being transferred to the State Biometric Information System (GIS EBS).

As the Center for Biometric Technologies (CBT) explained, today the biometric data of citizens is stored in disparate systems. These are, for example, fitness centers, banks and many other structures. Biometrics can be used in access systems to a building or its individual rooms. It works, in particular, in many Moscow City office buildings, however, fingerprints are also used there. “People are forced to re-submit biometric data in order to receive various services,” the CBT notes. “They don’t always remember and can’t track where their biometrics are stored and by whom.”

In accordance with the law adopted in December last year, biometric data from all disparate systems must be transferred to the EBS GIS. They will be stored in a single reliable database under the protection of the state. And citizens will have a “single window” for managing their biometrics through the State Services. In practice, this means that everyone can delete their data from the system if they wish.

Banks and other organizations that plan to send biometric information to the EBS GIS are required to notify users of this within 30 days. Already at this stage, you can refuse to transfer samples by notifying the organization. Then the information will not be transmitted, moreover, it will be deleted from the system.

“After data transfer, commercial systems will work with biometric vectors,” the CBT says. – A vector is a mathematical pattern. It is impossible to restore the biometrics itself from the vector, but it can be used to provide services and provide services.”

In the EBS, biometrics are placed in encrypted form, while passport data or full names are not stored in it. Thus, hacking the system is useless for attackers – they will not be able to use anonymized information.

By the way, organizations can use biometrics only with the consent of the citizen. Moreover, it is impossible to refuse a person to receive services on the grounds that he does not want to provide his data. And even after they are transferred, they can be deleted.

And from next year, it will become even easier to use biometric services – through a personal account at the State Services in the “one window” mode, it will be possible to manage all consents to the use of one’s biometrics. However, you can see information about the data registered in the EBS GIS through a bank branch or a mobile application right now.

“Biometrics in the system gives access to an extended list of services – from government to commercial,” the CBT notes. – A citizen can get a loan or open a bank account, get a Fan Card, protect his account on the State Services, get an electronic signature. The list of services is constantly expanding.

And by the way, GIS is not related to urban video surveillance systems. For these purposes, the information is not used.