Biometric data of “Tinkoff” clients may fall into the hands of the authorities

Since the end of September, Tinkoff Bank has started asking its clients for their consent to transfer their photos to the Unified Biometric System (UES). The photos will be processed and converted into biometric data format, Kommersant reports.

The message for the bank’s clients appeared in stories in the Tinkoff mobile application. “The bank asks clients to consent to the processing of biometric personal data and its results, including EBS vectors,” Kommersant said. “Tinkoff” says the purpose of data collection is the performance of operations “aimed at ensuring security” and authentication of users during remote maintenance. At the same time, the bank’s mobile application provides only a button that allows data transfer, it is impossible to refuse there.

“Kommersant” notes that the bank’s clients are in a negative mood. More than three thousand comments appeared under the story in the “Tinkoff” application, in some of them users asked how to opt out of data processing. The publication found out that this can only be done by contacting the bank in person or in writing through “Pochta Rossii”.

According to Kommersant, Tinkoff Bank has 30 million customers. Journalists note that such a quantity of biometric data could “significantly replenish the EBS”. However, their transfer requires the personal consent of each client.

In 2017, the State Duma obliged banks to transfer biometric data of clients to the Ministry of Internal Affairs and the FSB at the request of the council’s departments “to ensure the country’s defense, state security, law enforcement, and counter-terrorism.”