Moscow Metro Allocates $19 Million for Facial Recognition System

The Moscow Metro will spend 1,393,009,503.12 rubles (about $19 million) to equip a quarter of all train cars with a facial recognition system. With the help of cameras, city officials will be able to determine, in real time, the age, income level, social status, and even the phone number of any passenger. This was reported by the Russian BBC Service, citing a tender posted on the government procurement website.

Moscow Mayor Sergey Sobyanin announced this modernization back in January, after it became clear that the system “performed excellently on city streets and proved itself during the quarantine,” when it was used to track down violators of lockdown rules.

How the System Works

Thanks to the cameras and the creation of a system for working with massive data sets, city authorities can track the personal routes of Moscow residents throughout the city. They can also cross-reference this data with the websites people visit when connected to city Wi-Fi, as well as with information about movements using rented bicycles and vehicles.

After installing special software, law enforcement will be able to determine not only a person’s name, but also their gender, age, income level, and social status.

“Smart City” Initiative

The city administration currently operates around 170 information systems under the collective name “Smart City.” The sources of information are not limited to camera data; monitoring of cell phones, taxis, and car-sharing services is also used.

Implementation Timeline

By the end of the year, the city plans to equip about 1,500 out of 6,000 train cars with the facial recognition system. Each car is expected to have eight cameras capable of recognizing faces.

Stated Purpose

The stated goal of the system is to improve the comfort and safety of citizens, as well as to inform passengers about all changes and innovations in the operation of Moscow’s transportation network.