Chinese tech giant Tencent has launched an innovative payment system that lets users complete transactions with just a wave of their palm. The new technology, called Weixin Palm Payment, enables consumers in mainland China to pay for services and access facilities through palm-print scanning.
The system captures a user's unique palm print and vein patterns using infrared cameras when they hover their hand over a sensor. The biometric data is then matched to their payment information, allowing for quick, contactless transactions within seconds.
Currently, the palm-scanning technology can be used for activities like taking the subway or entering office buildings. Tencent markets the system as being as natural as "waving at a friend."
"We have confidence in this," said Guo Rizen, vice general manager of Tencent's Weixin Pay Industry Application unit, in a statement to CNN.
While the technology offers convenience by eliminating the need to carry phones or wallets, privacy experts have raised concerns. Edward Santow, industry professor at the University of Technology Sydney, warns about potential surveillance and cybersecurity risks.
"When your personal information is hoovered up at a huge scale, that creates a kind of honeypot for cybercriminals," Santow explained. He noted that if obtained illegally, such biometric data could be sold on black markets, potentially causing serious problems for affected individuals.
The palm-scanning payment concept isn't entirely new. Amazon has implemented similar technology called Amazon One in North America, allowing customers to link their palm prints to payment methods for seamless transactions.
As one of China's largest technology companies, Tencent continues to expand its digital footprint across various sectors including entertainment, gaming, financial technology, and social media. The introduction of palm-scanning payments represents another step in the company's mission to bring innovative technology to mainstream consumers.
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