Mastercard launches a controversial programme it claims will unleash a new era of biometric payments, that will allow shoppers to pay for goods at the checkout using gestures such as a smile or hand wave. Compared with credit or debit card payments, MasterCard believes the new system will increase security while speeding up payments because shoppers won't need riffle pockets and bags for payment cards. Instead, "Consumers can simply check the bill and smile into a camera or wave their hand over a reader to pay."
The scheme raises several security concerns, such as what would happen if the biometric data was compromised. It is not as if a smile or hand wave can be changed like traditional passwords.
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