Amazon recently announced a new digital payment system. This new system can be physically used in shops, by waving your hand above a payment device. You will not have to implement any type of chip or card inside your body, you just have to register your hand palm (BBC News, 2020). The payment device is able to read the vein patterns on your palm, which is impressive considering these are different for every finger and every individual. Amazon states that this method is more private than any other payment, because you can’t see a persons’ real identity on their palm, and it will consequently decrease fraud (Warren, 2020). They think that customers will appreciate the contactless nature of the system, especially in these COVID-times, in which nobody wants to touch public objects Also, the veins in your hand will remain the same your entire life so you would never have to change your ‘card’. The palm scanner can easily be implemented in one of the 20-plus Amazon Go stores, where you can scan your palm and link it to your bank account (Business Insider, 2020).
Obviously, there are many concerns about the implementation of this types of payment methods. For instance, privacy group Big Brother Watch had major issues with Amazon’s invention. Silkie Carlo, the director, state: ‘’Amazon continues to fill the market with invasive, dystopian technologies that solve non-existent problems.’’ (BBC News, 2020).
He also mentions that it is absolutely not necessary to give away your private, biometric data in order to buy food. In his eyes, Amazon wants to normalize infiltration in civilian’s homes and bodies to empower themselves.
Amazon already possesses an endless amount of data about everyone of its customers, and keeps this in their database forever (Kelion, n.d.). Especially with Alexa invading people’s homes the amount of information Amazon has about people is gigantic.
Amazon stated that the information is stored not in their usual database, but in a cloud separate from other customer data (Business Insider, 2020). However, ‘’somewhere in a cloud’’ does not sound all that safe to me. I would not be comfortable with the fact that a company is in possession of my very personal data. Especially when giving them my card or cash money is a very adequate method of paying.
What do you guys think? Do you think this could possibly be the future or will people in general be resistant against it?
BBC News. (2020, 29 September). Amazon One: Palm scanner launched for “secure” payments. https://www.bbc.com/news/technology-54337984
Business Insider (2020, 29 September). Amazon is letting customers pay for groceries by scanning their palm at its Go convenience stores. https://www.businessinsider.com/amazon-one-palm-scanner-payment-system-trialed-amazon-go-seattle-2020-9?international=true&r=US&IR=T
Kelion, L. (z.d.). Amazon: How Bezos built his data machine. BBC News. Read 1 oktober 2020, van https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/extra/CLQYZENMBI/amazon-data
Warren, T. (2020, 29 september). Amazon One lets you pay with your palm. The Verge. https://www.theverge.com/2020/9/29/21493094/amazon-one-palm-recognition-hand- payments-amazon-go-store
Hi Eva,
In my opinion it is interesting to see that Amazon is really active in trying to find options that will avoid people from touching many objects in their stores, especially during this global pandemic. However, I also have my doubts if this will be the future way of how payments will be made by consumers. Using your own hand palm as a way to pay is really personal, because it is part of your own body. The current way of payments, using Apple Pay for example, is also a way of payment for which people do not have to touch objects. Therefore, I think that people will be resistant against using their handpalm as a way of payment and if they do not want to touch anything during check-out in stores, they will continue using Apple Pay.
Insane, such an interesting topic for discussion! I had no idea that the palm’s veins remain the same during someone’s life. I mean that’s very convenient you essentially do not run the risk of being robbed or pickpocketed. No doubt however that it is very very sensitive data to give to any company. Perhaps Amazon could be considered a rather “safe” option but still in case this data gets in the wrong hands…. there is no going back then. I mean if your credit or debit card is lost or stolen you simply buy a new one, however with tis technology there is nothing you can do. It is a very interesting topic that has huge potential but it is also very dangerous. I also wouldn’t be comfortable sharing such information just for the shake of saving a few seconds or avoid the risk of getting robbed. However, with some twitches and additional measures I could see people getting tempted in using such technologies. Let’s see only the future will show!
Hi Eva,
Very very interesting post! Amazon never ceases to amaze me with all of their new technologies and ideas. Personally, I find this fascinating. It is very clear that Amazon is extremely consumer-centric as they always focus on problems that the consumer may not know exists up until the alternative is presented. This is palm-reading device is incredibly intelligent and is clearly a good tool during covid-19 times. In terms of privacy, I think that this is a problem that is more and more inherent in society and sometimes there is no use in fighting it.
Interesting article! I fully agree with your reservations when it comes to adopting this technology. Amazon already possesses lots of consumption data of its customers. In addition, it is not unthinkable that tech giants will start to disrupt the banking industry – by applying for a banking license or partnering with existing banks – to be able to collect and exploit transaction data. In combination with payment methods like these, Amazon possesses a potentially dangerous cocktail of personal information.
In practice, however, I expect that all of the above eventually will happen. A far greater majority will prefer convenience over data security or privacy. This will gradually increase adoption by merchants, and turn this new technology into a mainstream one, changing societies’ perception towards the potential consequences.
Hi Eva,
Interesting points on Amazon’s new feature! Whereas I think it is amazing that technology is as advanced that applciations as such are possible, I also agree with your concern with regards to the data privacy. Even though paying by card is already adequate enough, especially for grocery shopping, there are also increasingly more payment options (like Apple Pay, contactless pay) that allow for ‘COVID safe payments’. Therefore, I do not really see the benefit of using biometrics to pay for groceries, especially not when my data is stored somewhere. Although I would not prefer to use it, I still believe we do not really have a choice. As ideas like these are brought to the market more and more, eventually people will start to adopt it. I just hope that by that time, ‘somewhere in the cloud’ becomes a little more specific with transparency on data use and privacy regulations. Interesting times ahead!
Best,
Cas