People can finally purchase online using their faces.
CNN Money reported that in the fall of 2015, MasterCard will begin experimenting with a facial scanning system that will approve online purchases. The experiment will be limited to around 500 clients only. MasterCard plans to make the program available for everyone when tests prove to be successful. During checkout, buyers will be requested to take a photo of themselves, instead of using their signature, credit card number or fingerprint. The new program intends to prevent credit card fraud, among others.
“The new generation, which is into selfies ... I think they'll find it cool. They'll embrace it,” said Ajay Bhalla, the person who created the innovative solution for the credit card company’s security issues.
At present, buyers can create a “SecureCode,” which will need a password when they buy on the internet. The code will prevent hackers from using other people’s credit cards to purchase on the internet. SecureCode was reportedly used in 3 billion transactions in the past year.
Following Apple’s example in using fingerprint scanning to double its security measures for Apple Pay, MasterCard will begin a pilot program that uses both fingerprints and facial scans. The credit card company partnered with every smartphone maker namely Apple, Google, Microsoft, Blackberry and Samsung to come up with the face recognition system.
Based on the same report by CNN Money, users have to first download the MasterCard phone app. A pop-up will appear and ask for the user authorization after they pay for an item online. Users can also opt for fingerprint scanning which will require them to touch their mobile device to authenticate. As for the facial recognition scan, the user’s face will be mapped out and converted into 0s and 1s. It will be sent to MasterCard online.
According to Bhalla, MasterCard is not capable of reconstructing the user’s face. The information transmitted will also remain secure in MasterCard’s computer servers. A number of experts have doubts about keeping the information in MasterCard’s database. Some say that there are risks on both privacy and business perspectives. Others, however, are confident that MasterCard can properly protect the algorithm being stored. In March this year, Chinese consumer website Alibaba launched its version of facial recognition technoloy for online purchases.
Furthermore, MasterCard is allegedly working on voice recognition as well to approve online purchases. The company is also working with Nymi to create technology that can approve purchases through heartbeat recognition.
More news about the facial recognition experiment is expected to surface soon.