Mastercard wants to let you buy things with your face

Leave your plastic at home – all you need to make purchases in a new Mastercard pilot program is your face.

To buy something, just smile or wave at a camera equipped with a biometric reader, according to the company that advertises the advantage of not having to take out your wallet or phone to make a payment.

Mastercard’s Biometric Payment Program, which uses the same type of technology that allows Apple iPhone owners to unlock their devices with a face or fingerprint, is designed for use by retailers. People who want to test the technology must first enroll in the program in stores or through an application at home.

Merchants benefit from faster transaction times and shorter payment queues, and the system is compatible with retailer loyalty programs, according to Mastercard.

“The way we pay must be in line with the way we live, work and do business, offering consumers the highest levels of security,” said Ajay Bhala, president of cyber and intelligence in Mastercard. “Our goal with this new program is to make shopping a great experience for both consumers and retailers, providing the best of security and convenience.”

Mastercard’s first biometric pilot launched in Brazil this week in partnership with Payface, a digital payment system, and St Marche, a supermarket chain in Sao Paulo. Consumers in five participating supermarkets will be able to register via the Payface application. Additional Triassics will be introduced in the Middle East and Asia.

Many retailers have adopted contactless payment technologies during the pandemic.

“The explosion of COVID-19 was the key reason for the development and adoption of contactless biometric technologies,” said KBV Research, a market research company. report. The company estimates that the global market for contactless biometric technology will reach $ 18.6 billion by 2026.