The Russian authorities have launched, for the first time in the world, a ticketing system based on face recognition in the Moscow metro. The system entitled “Face Pay”, which is optional and not mandatory for passengers to use, has now been installed in 240 metro stations in Moscow.
Passengers wishing to use Face Pay must first submit a photo of themselves and link it to their bank account and e-ticket. To pay for a ticket then just look at a camera at the checkpoints.
Passenger data will be encrypted and securely stored. The point, however, is that users’ digital rights and data can be violated and used for mass surveillance, respectively. According to the Russian authorities, the Russian state plans to install the “Safe City” biometric identification system throughout the country, which was used to locate and arrest Alexei Navalny’s supporters. Big Brother is already settled in Russia.
