Russia Blocks 60,000 Foreigners Using Biometric ID System

Russia's implementation of biometric identification systems at border checkpoints has significantly impacted foreign entry, with approximately 60,000 individuals being denied access to the country. Interior Minister Vladimir Kolokoltsev highlighted the preventive capabilities of these systems, which are part of an ongoing experiment to gather personal data. He noted that these measures have been instrumental in identifying individuals barred from entering Russia. Beyond restricting entry, Kolokoltsev also reported a substantial reduction in crimes committed by migrants, citing a decrease of nearly 40 percent. A key factor in this success, according to the minister, is the establishment of a registry for controlled individuals. Russian authorities now possess additional powers to track the whereabouts of legal migrants, utilizing tools such as geolocation data, payment systems, and photo-and-video recording.

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Preventive potential is possessed by biometric identification systems. They are being actively implemented as part of an experiment to collect personal data at border crossing points. To date, they have identified about 60,000 individuals who are banned from entering our country.