Amazon Payment System to Roll selfie: Is It Safe

Amazon Payment System to Roll selfie: Is It Safe -

With social media apps like Snapchat and Snapcash of mobile payment applications as Venmo and Apple Pay, new ways make purchases are popping up all the time. Amazon seeks to follow the technology of payments selfie - a seemingly more secure way to shop online. Instead of entering a password, Amazon wants to use facial recognition software which invites you to take a selfie to authorize a payment on its site. Although there is no fixed date on this technology will be effectively implemented, Amazon has filed a patent on this software on March 10. Here's what we know so far.

How this work selfie payment technology?

Similar to the authorization fingerprint so replaced the traditional password or key phrase on mobile devices, this new software will replace manually entering a password on a online purchase. Amazon hopes with a selfie to replace a password you discourage hackers and prevent children from making unauthorized purchases on behalf of their parents - something Google recently been under light for in-app purchases. To make this functionality wage selfie safer and help prevent someone from simply using a photo of you to make a purchase, the software will require you to blink, smile or nod when paying selfie.

Are other companies using facial recognition technology?

This is not the first time a company has tested facial recognition technology. Windows 10 now gives users the ability to connect with a sweep of the face and Facebook has used similar technology to identify and tag suggestions for photos with friends in them. It is also not the first time a company has tried to use facial recognition to allow either purchases. Last year, MasterCard began testing similar software that prompted its cardholders to take a selfie on their mobile device before completing a transaction. Although no company has fully deployed software that allows payments selfie, it is something that more and more companies are looking to use in the near future.

What does this mean for me?

As with any new technology, there will always be controversy about whether it is safe to use, especially when it comes to trust in something unknown with your financial information. Because there is still so new, and considering Amazon has not announced a date for when it plans to start using this software, payment selfie is not something users immediately have to make a decision sure. That said, it gives users something to think about in terms of identity theft and online security because there may be some concern about the accuracy of the software and whether or not Amazon (or any another company) will store your selfies. While many security issues go unanswered for now, they can be something potential users will want to think more about this technology rolls out.

Follow our identity theft blog to learn more about keeping your information safe when you shop online.