MasterCard Says Payment Verification By Selfie Will Be Ready By Summer

PURCHASE, NY -- MasterCard said by summer its U.S. and Canadian customers will be able to authenticate their online purchases using selfies or fingerprints instead of passwords.

To use the technology, cardholders will need to download a MasterCard app that will allow them to take a photo each time they make an online purchase. They will still need to enter their credit card information as usual, but will be asked to smile for the camera, or use the fingerprint scanner on their device to authorize the purchase. The technology will verify that the selfie is authentic, and not a previously taken photo by requiring a user to blink when they take their own photo.

Nine out of 10 participants in a Dutch pilot of the technology said they would like to replace their passwords with biometric identification. Almost 75% of users said they were convinced that biometric payments will decrease fraud. The 750 cardholders in the pilot said they had been able to complete their online purchases easily without PINs, passwords or confirmation codes over six months.

After the pilot, the vast majority, 77%, said they want to continue using a fingerprint and/or facial recognition to complete a payment.

"The Dutch consumer is very progressive in embracing new technologies. Our country is the international leader in easy, safe and efficient payments," said MasterCard Netherlands country manager Arjan Bol. "We are now examining the possibilities to integrate our technology in the banking and tech giants' apps to make payment using a selfie or fingerprint even easier."

Apple Pay, Samsung Pay and Android Pay, among other mobile payment systems, also allow users to authorize purchases using their fingerprints.