A unified biometric system has been created in Russia which can be accessed banks and law enforcement agencies

At the end of 2017, changes were made to data protection law which allows for the collecting of individuals’ biometric information, for example, when dealing with a bank or government departments and has created a ‘unified biometric system’.

Such data can be collected with the permission of the individual for the purpose of applying for financial services with the benefit being that the system can provide for remote identification procedures.  As part of the process of creating the necessary legal framework for such situations, amendments have been made to the Federal law ‘On combatting money laundering from criminal sources and financing terrorism’.

It should be noted that there may be potential risks for individuals using such systems of identification.  A processor of a unified biometric system is obligation to provide data that it holds to law enforcement agencies.  Further details on the procedure for the exchange of such information will be established by the Russian government.

The amendments to the law enter into force on 30 June 2018.