Russia trials biometric payments

Owing to concerns about the possibility of spreading the coronavirus via banknotes and payment cards, Russia has begun testing its Unified Biometric System (EBS) for payments at a selection of grocery stores including Lenta supermarkets. The Russian bank VTB plans a mass roll-out for mid-2020. For the beginning of 2021, Promsvyazbank is planning trials of facial biometric payments, a system the bank is negotiating to introduce with several retail chains. Facial biometric payments are made through terminals with built-in cameras. Rostelecom, which operates the EBS, claims the system reduces transaction time from 20 to 5 seconds, and that it can also provide loyalty points or confirm the purchaser’s age. To date there are more than 130,000 templates stored in the EBS database.

Source: https://www.biometricupdate.com/202003/biometric-checks-and-facial-recognition-payments-to-support-social-distancing-fight-spread-of-covid-19

Writer: Chris Burt
Publication: Biometric Update