Shoppers call out supermarkets over reports of biometric payments

Shoppers are threatening to boycott supermarkets after it was reported that they are set to introduce biometric payment methods at the checkout by early next year.

It was reported weeks ago that supermarket giants across the UK could soon ask shoppers to ditch cash and card payments, and instead use their face or fingerprints at the checkout. A trial is in place to increase shopper security at the tills, though some may see it as a step closer to a cashless society.

Social media users took to Twitter to express their disappointment over the reports.

https://twitter.com/ryan_ramshaw/status/1531717585716355074?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1531717585716355074%7Ctwgr%5E%7Ctwcon%5Es1_&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.chargedretail.co.uk%2F2022%2F06%2F01%2Ftesco-biometric-checkout%2F

Mastercard is trialing a biometric payment system that could see customers just use their face rather than contactless cards, smartphones or PINs. Shoppers would be able to smile or wave a hand at a scanner to pay for their shopping.

Customers would be able to scan their face or fingerprint using a supermarket's smartphone app and link their likeness to a bank card, reports said. Payments Card and Mobile website says it would work in a similar way to Apple's facial ID while The Telegraph reported that Mastercard wants to roll out the program worldwide for small and large retailers.

The biometric facial recognition software would lead to shorter queues, be more hygienic than tapping in a pin, and less vulnerable to fraud linked to credit and debit cards, reports quoted Mastercard as saying.