[Forwarded from The Owner. News ?? ????]
Russia Expands Laws To Build Citizens' Biometric Database
Last Friday just when Russians were busy packing their bags for weekend's retreats, the legislators, Duma, adopted a law obliging banks and state agencies to enter their clients’ biometrics, including facial images and voice samples, into a central biometrics database. The measure is set to take effect by March 2023 and does not require banks to seek clients’ consent before handing over their data.
The law with a long title “On Amending Articles 14 and 14-1 of the Federal Law "On Information, Information Technologies and Information Protection" and Article 5 of the Federal Law "On Amendments to Particular Legislative Acts of the Russian Federation”” indicates that the data needs to be regularly updated.
In what appears to be a coordinated effort in anticipation of the new regulation, #Russia’s Central Bank is already planning to prohibit individual branches from allowing clients to open new accounts or apply for loans via mobile apps without biometric data authentication. The move is likely designed to boost #biometric data collection which would ultimately be shared with the government.
The law enforcement of the major Russian cities are already utilising the biometric date, including images and footage in their identification systems via the monitoring cameras, and the microphone systems installed clandestinely in public places.
