Amazon Begins Large-Scale Rollout of Palm Print-Based Payments

An anonymous reader quotes a report from Ars Technica: Amazon will expand its Amazon One palm print checkout system to dozens of Whole Foods locations, marking the most significant expansion of the technology that was introduced in 2020. Amazon One allows customers to speedily check out at retail locations using only their palm prints after storing a scan of their hand via an interface at Amazon's kiosks. The palm print data is encrypted and stored on Amazon's servers. And before you worry too much about COVID-19 transmission or future pandemics, Amazon One works when you hover your palm over the scanner -- unlike some handprint tech.

Amazon initially added the technology in its Amazon Go stores and the now-shuttered Amazon Books retail locations. It then made its way to several Whole Foods locations in the Seattle area. (Amazon has owned the Whole Foods grocery chain since 2017.) Now, Amazon Go will expand to 65 Whole Foods stores across California. The rollout starts in Malibu and Santa Monica, with more locations adopting it in Los Angeles, Santa Cruz, and the Bay Area over the next few weeks. Amazon previously rolled the tech out to a few select locations in California, but never at this scale.

Just adding to the dystopia...

[ffkom]

... where Amazon knows everything you bought, everything you searched, and makes money from that data. I don't even want to imagine the evil business models they will develop based on troves of biometric data.

Re:

[b0s0z0ku]

"Where you've been" is the most important risk. Picture being a pregnant woman who's no longer pregnant, and who traveled to a state which allows reproductive freedom. The cop pigs in your home state may well wish to know about your travels.

Re:

[kmoser]

How would the cops in your home state suddenly know you're not pregnant? Do you envision a scenario in which they subpoena your Amazon purchases and notice you're suddenly eating much less pickles and ice cream?

Re:

[b0s0z0ku]

Some bitch or bastard snitches to them and they decide to dig deeper. My point is, data that the cop pigfuckers don't have can't hurt you.

Re:

[SvnLyrBrto]

Since they wantonly refuse to be bothered to put down the donuts and coffee and pull their thumbs and heads out of their asses to rescue a room full of children, some of whom are on the phone with 911 begging for help, from being slaughtered; why should anyone *else* trust in them to be be counted on in any other sort of crisis?

Good Way To Spread Disease

[zenlessyank]

So instead of a cashier, we now need someone to spray clean the sensor between customers?

I only give my palm print to the police, thank you very much!

Re:

[Powercntrl]

So instead of a cashier, we now need someone to spray clean the sensor between customers?

It was explained in the summary that the scanner is non-contact. Not that I believe for one second that will actually stop idiots from slamming their disgusting hands right onto it regardless. Never underestimate the ability of the public to use technology the wrong way.

Re:

[CaptQuark]

You do realize that nothing in this system is mandatory, right? Just like loyalty cards - the system only works if you are tempted by discounted prices or "cool" features.

Don't want Whole Foods to know it was you buying 10 diet soda bottles, Mentoes, dry ice, and 10 pounds of sugar? Pay cash.

Re:

[MrL0G1C]

Yeah, not mandatory until a majority start to use it and then it is mandatory. I hope this system gets beaten with fake prints fast.

Re:

[SvnLyrBrto]

Yup. Amazon Go was a really cool display of technology, the products they stocked were a good number of steps above 7/11 fare, and not wasting time waiting in line and being checked out was fantastic. And I've been of the opinion that cashless is the way to go for many years... first with cards for everything possible when I started playing the points game, and now contactless for cleanliness and not having to carry around all the cards that I have in Apple Pay. In fact, that's good for a laugh. In my n

Not worried about Covid...

[jenningsthecat]

And before you worry too much about COVID-19 transmission or future pandemics...

Given rampant biometric identification like this, combined with constant gathering of personal data, the big worry here isn't infectious disease. The big worry is that human beings are being treated more and more like inventoried cattle. Collectively, we're seeing the birth of a dystopia here, and we're embracing it with open arms. Sad and scary.

Re:

[Powercntrl]

Given rampant biometric identification like this, combined with constant gathering of personal data, the big worry here isn't infectious disease.

That ship has sailed. Most major retailers already track your purchases based on the credit card you're using. So far, the most insidious thing they've done with that knowledge is... sell you stuff you were going to buy anyway? I really don't get the paranoia over retailers knowing your shopping habits. It's not like the police are going to be at your door one day asking what you've been doing with all those taco shells.

Re:

[Kargan]

I think it has more to do with the information existing in such a widespread manner in the first place, because once it does, it can't be lost somehow -- for law enforcement, the government, foreign governments, the highest bidder, Amazon employees, enterprising hackers, etc.

Re:

[b0s0z0ku]

I pay cash wherever I can, like a free human. And I often leave home without my fucking e-leash (I mean cell phone).

As far as the cop scum, let's say that someone from Mississippi was pregnant and didn't end up giving birth. It wouldn't be far-fetched for those "heroes in uniform" to subpoena records to check whether said person spent time in neighboring states which still allow bodily autonomy.

The real problem isn't WHAT you bought. It's WHERE you've been and WHO you've spent time with.

No

[awwshit]

No Amazon, you cannot scan my hand.

Wow, finally a use for Palm OS!

[saccade.com]

I'd wondered what happened to Palm OS - I thought it was finally dead a decade ago, but I guess they went into payment process-- What? Oh, that Palm. Never mind.

Re:

[sysrammer]

I'd wondered what happened to Palm OS - I thought it was finally dead a decade ago, but I guess they went into payment process-- What? Oh, that Palm.

Never mind.

Arecaceae, natch.

This will fail

[rapjr]

People leave palm prints everywhere they go. It won't be long until the system is attacked and rendered useless. Doesn't Amazon have any computer security people? They should hire Bruce Schneier as a consultant. This seems really stupid based on current known best practices for security, in my opinion. Same thing goes for fingerprint readers. Using biometrics to log into your social network makes some sense, using them to authenticate for financial purposes is an invitation to theft. For one thing no

Re:

[colin_young]

You're assuming they are using the physical imprint of your palm. I couldn't find details of how the system works, but they do say "multi layered" about why they use a palm print, which suggests they are using palm vein patterns, like Fujitsu's system does. I am familiar with that one, and it requires blood flow to work, so you don't need to worry about the "cutting off the victim's hand" scenario, since it's faster and simpler to just take the whole person and super glue the back of their hand to a board o

...And when their system gets hacked

[OnlyInAZ]

When (not if) their system gets hacked, don't worry. You can just click on a link to change your palm prints. Hold on, How exactly do I ......