Translation. Region: Russian Federation –
Source: Moscow Government – Moscow Government –
An important disclaimer is at the bottom of this article.
Biometrics is the fastest and most convenient way to pay for public transportation. Currently, it is used by approximately 700,000 people. More than 1.2 million passes are made using biometrics on public transportation each week. Since its launch, the service has been used over 185 million times. This was announced by the Deputy Mayor of Moscow for Transport and Industry. Maxim Liksutov.
"The biometric fare payment service was launched at all metro stations in 2021, following Sergei Sobyanin's instructions. Today, passengers make approximately 200,000 trips per weekday using facial recognition, and this number is steadily growing. I was one of the first users of the system and recommend everyone to join and try it. Our development complies with the most stringent requirements of Russian legislation. All user data is encrypted and protected, and payment information is stored exclusively on the bank's side," noted Maxim Liksutov.
The modern biometric payment service operates at all metro and Moscow Central Circle turnstiles, regular river electric transport, Aeroexpress train routes, and some Moscow Central Diameters stations (Nakhabino, Three Stations Square, Likhobory, and Zelenograd-Kryukovo).
Biometric payment is secure, convenient, and affordable: a single metro ride costs just 63 rubles. Furthermore, passengers don't need cards or wallets to pass through the turnstile. A single glance at the camera is all it takes, and the gate opens.
Data is under reliable protection
Fraudsters won't be able to access other people's biometric data. It's securely encrypted and stored on protected servers within the metro's closed network. The entire system complies with the strictest legal requirements. The service boasts banking-level security.
But even if scammers get their hands on the information on the servers, it will be useless, as they store anonymous, encrypted biometric keys.
There's a myth that someone else can apply for a loan using a passenger's biometric data. This isn't true. Biometrics in public transport are used to authenticate passengers and conduct microtransactions, such as fare payment. A different type of biometrics is required to apply for a loan. This type is suitable for user identification and complex financial transactions.
The biometric vector stored on the metro's servers is a string of characters that cannot be decoded back into a facial image. The payment data for biometric users on public transport is stored exclusively by the bank. Therefore, the passenger's funds and identity are completely secure.
Optimal identification
Biometric payment cannot be performed using a photograph—the turnstile simply won't open. The service uses Liveness technology. A neural network distinguishes a living person, their facial expressions, and even the slightest movements from images or videos on a phone.
Another fact: glasses, hair, and a mask do not interfere with biometric scanning. At least 40 percent of the face must be exposed for recognition. However, it is recommended to expose the entire face—this will allow the system to more quickly recognize the user and allow them through the turnstile.
How to use the service
You can enable biometric payment in three simple steps. Download the app. Moscow Metro, upload a high-quality photo of your face, and link a bank card with a positive balance to the service. All data will be uploaded to the system within a few hours (usually within 15-20 minutes).
Additionally, you should pay attention to the quality of the photo uploaded to the system. The higher the quality, the easier it will be for the system to recognize your face.
The turnstile doors open in about one second. For the biometric system to work as quickly as possible, stand on the black circle in front of the turnstile, look at the camera, and smile. This way, the system immediately recognizes that you are a real person. Nowhere in the world has this service been implemented on such a scale and with such convenience for passengers as in the capital. Biometric payment is a Russian development and the property of the Moscow Government.
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Please note: This information is raw content obtained directly from the source. It represents an accurate account of the source's assertions and does not necessarily reflect the position of MIL-OSI or its clients.