Russian payment system Mir is considering launching a face recognition-based payment service, RBC reports with reference to its own sources.

One of the subjects of discussion is another identifier to the biometric facial data, in the form of mimics or voice. In other words, the buyer will have look into the camera first and then wink or pronounce a phrase.

Mir could launch the box model of biometric face recognition-based payment as soon as in summer 2019.

The Russian National Payment Card System (NSPC, the operator of Mir payment system) monitors all modern payment technologies and trends, said the company’s press service, adding that NSPC “is also studying the biometric face recognition-based payment technology”.


According to head of National Payments Council Alma Obayeva, this technology is more secure than bank cards, which is why payment systems are considering biometrics. “Cards can be stolen, PIN codes – falsified, but it can never happen to a face,” she said.

Other experts believe the mains risks of biometric identification is the probability of misspent payments and lack of regulatory documents, which makes it unclear who exactly will bear the responsibility for misidentification.

“When the system needs to recognize one payer out of dozens and hundreds of thousands of users, it does not have 100% identification accuracy. In that case, someone can make payments on behalf of another person by accident or on purpose. It is one thing if it is payment for pizza and another if it is a major purchase,” noted RBC.

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