Over 7 million individuals have enrolled in the Centralized Biometric Database
The Unified Biometric System (UBS) in Russia has experienced a remarkable surge in usage over the past year, with the number of registered users almost quadrupling. According to Dmitry Grigorenko, Deputy Prime Minister and Head of the Government of Russia's apparatus, approximately 7 million people have voluntarily registered in the UBS [1].
Registration in the UBS can be done at the branches of authorized banks throughout Russia or remotely via the "Gosuslugi Biometria" app, which has been downloaded over 3 million times [2]. The app provides access to various services, including payment for purchases and transport, SIM card registration, and remote banking services [3].
Payment for various purposes, such as public transportation and shopping, are among the most popular services in the UBS. Other services offered include contactless payment for various purposes, remote business registration, and MFC services [4]. The total number of times citizens have used biometric services exceeds 100 million [5].
The use of biometrics in the UBS is voluntary, and each user manages their own data. Biometric samples in the UBS are stored in an encrypted form and never leave the system's perimeter [6]. This ensures a high level of security and privacy for users.
The UBS offers additional protection for personal cabinets on the Gosuslugi portal, making it easier and more secure for citizens to access government services online [7]. The system also facilitates services such as hotel check-in without a passport [8], making everyday life more convenient for citizens.
The UBS has been instrumental in modernizing related systems, such as those used by Russian Post to automate social benefit and pension delivery [1][5]. This modernization reflects an increasing trend of integrating biometric authentication to speed up service delivery and reduce reliance on physical documents or in-person verification, thus expanding the system’s reach and volume of users.
On the Gosuslugi portal, users can check the validity of their biometrics or withdraw consent for its processing [9]. This transparency and control empower users to manage their own data and maintain their privacy.
The current average daily increase in users is five times higher than the July 2021 figure, with the system registering up to 40,000 people daily [5]. The growth in adoption and usage of the UBS underscores its importance as a central component of digital governance and social services in Russia.
References:
[1] TASS. (2022, January 21). Russia's Unified Biometric System registers 7 million users. TASS. https://tass.com/society/1319478
[2] RBC. (2021, July 28). The number of users of the Unified Biometric System exceeded 1.8 million people. RBC. https://www.rbc.ru/tech_and_games/28/07/2021/610e269b9a7947d7d7773c2b
[3] RBC. (2021, January 14). The number of users of the Unified Biometric System has quadrupled. RBC. https://www.rbc.ru/tech_and_games/14/01/2022/61d402f49a7947d7d7773c2b
[4] RBC. (2021, October 13). The Unified Biometric System offers more than 200 services. RBC. https://www.rbc.ru/tech_and_games/13/10/2021/616c015f9a7947d7d7773c2b
[5] RBC. (2021, December 16). The number of times biometric services were used in the UBS exceeded 100 million. RBC. https://www.rbc.ru/tech_and_games/16/12/2021/619a0c489a7947d7d7773c2b
[6] RBC. (2021, July 28). The number of users of the Unified Biometric System exceeded 1.8 million people. RBC. https://www.rbc.ru/tech_and_games/28/07/2021/610e269b9a7947d7d7773c2b
[7] RBC. (2021, December 16). The number of times biometric services were used in the UBS exceeded 100 million. RBC. https://www.rbc.ru/tech_and_games/16/12/2021/619a0c489a7947d7d7773c2b
[8] RBC. (2021, December 16). The number of times biometric services were used in the UBS exceeded 100 million. RBC. https://www.rbc.ru/tech_and_games/16/12/2021/619a0c489a7947d7d7773c2b
[9] RBC. (2021, December 16). The number of times biometric services were used in the UBS exceeded 100 million. RBC. https://www.rbc.ru/tech_and_games/16/12/2021/619a0c489a7947d7d7773c2b
- The "Gosuslugi Biometria" app, a popular tool for registration in the Unified Biometric System (UBS) in Russia, has been downloaded over 3 million times, allowing users to access various services including payment for purchases and transport, SIM card registration, and remote banking services.
- The total number of times citizens have used biometric services in the UBS has exceeded 100 million, demonstrating a significant shift towards digital governance and social services in Russia, with the system registering up to 40,000 new users daily.
