Cybersecurity of biometric data storage at sports facilities and the irreversibility of leaks

Abstract

Introduction. This article examines the cybersecurity of biometric storage systems at sports venues with the aim of assessing the nature and consequences of leaks, establishing the degree of irreversibility of biometric template compromise, and proposing practical risk mitigation measures. Materials and methods. The study is based on a comparative analysis of storage architectures, a review of documented incidents (including massive leaks of verification platforms), a review of regulatory requirements, and data on attack vectors in multi-node infrastructures. The relevance of this work is dictated by the widespread adoption of "face-as-pass" systems and the integration of biometrics into payments and loyalty programs, which transforms the turnstile into a central hub for commercial and identification risk. It is shown that modern methods of reconstruction from hashed vectors and extensive cross-matching capabilities make compromises long-term and systemic. Results and discussion. The novelty lies in the synthesis of leak empirical data and technological analysis, with a proposal for an applied security architecture—a combination of revocable tokenization, hardware-based key storage, and verification in secure computing areas—and a product-based formulation of a set of organizational measures (microsegmentation, red-teaming, contractual discipline, and data minimization). Conclusion. The key conclusion is that biometric templates form a critical "point of failure," the damage from which is cumulative and virtually irreversible; technical countermeasures without robust organizational practices and ongoing risk management are insufficient. This article will be useful for arena operators, biometric solution providers, cybersecurity teams, regulators, and privacy researchers.