MasterCard said on Tuesday local time that it hopes to enable consumers to pay with a smile or wave in stores through its new biometric checkout program "Our payment methods need to keep pace with our way of life, work and business, and provide consumers with choice and the highest level of security," Ajay Bhalla, President of MasterCard's network and intelligence department, said in a press release
The company said it had developed a set of compliance standards for banks, merchants and technology providers to ensure that the private data of consumers using the service was properly protected.
Privacy advocates have long been wary of companies dealing with biometric data from consumers, especially when it comes to facial recognition. The main concern is that collecting biometric data such as facial structures or fingerprints will put people's privacy at risk, because these data are unique, unalterable and identifiable.
Several States, including Illinois, have enacted laws regulating the use of biometrics. Lawmakers also proposed federal legislation to ban the use of facial recognition. It has also filed lawsuits against companies that violate biometric privacy laws. Earlier this year, the IRS began allowing taxpayers to choose not to use facial id.me.
It is reported that MasterCard began testing its experimental biometric payment program in five supermarkets in Sao Paulo, Brazil this week. The company said it plans to test in Asia and the Middle East in the future.
MasterCard said that although the company is focusing on testing the program in the early market, the United States is also part of its recent plan, and it has had an encouraging dialogue with potential partners.