How paying with your face could become a reality at Aussie retailers

There’s no need for a wallet or phone; your face alone will pay the bill.

In a growing cashless society, researchers from the Queensland University of Technology and University of Technology have looked into how it might succeed – or fail – in Australia.

Dr Shasha Wang told 9News.com.au retailers in Australia could use the technology to stop shoplifters in their tracks more easily.

“Facial recognition payment technology (FRPT) is different from retailer surveillance systems that use facial recognition technology (e.g., cameras recording and detecting/recognizing individuals),” she said.

“Both are based on facial recognition technology, and the combination of them will help reduce shoplifting significantly.”

Wong said shops who gain legal access to customer faces could identify thieves more accurately and thus reduce the risk.

When speaking to ordinary Aussies, one of the biggest issues researchers found was not privacy, but how it could encourage impulsive and over-spending.

[It] could be bad because then I’ve got no way of saying ‘I don’t have money on me.’ That is when you always have an open purse…” one interviewee said.

“Yeah, sadly, facial recognition is always there.”

The university researchers said Australians may be willing to use their faces to pay if it’s a smooth and hassle-free process.

Facial recognition technology isn’t new – most people have it on their mobile phones.

If a shopper uses it successfully on their phone, the researchers predict they’ll be open to using it to make transactions in shops, cafes or restaurants.

“Imagine you’re in the supermarket looking at the screen to pay, but it’s not working, it’s not recognising you,” Laszlo Sajtos, co-author and University of Auckland Associate Professor of Marketing, said.

“So, you’re moving your head from side to side, up and down. This can be really embarrassing for some people, and if it happens once, there’s less interest in trying again. Some people might lose confidence in the technology altogether.”

It was found retailers would need to have support staff to help customers with the technology.

The paper also notes Australians would need to feel in control. If they felt pressured to adopt this payment system, they may reject a potential roll-out.

A less prominent but significant issue was the question of privacy.

Wang said it may be more of a problem for smaller, lesser known retailers wanting to store customer’s financial information.

“Some people think they are OK with this technology because they have used facial recognition to unlock their phone or that their face is already on the internet, but when it comes to payments, this is totally different,” she said.

“This means that banks and retailers will have customers’ faces stored in their systems and some people have concerns about this, especially with the rise of deepfakes and other scams.”

Paying with your face Down Under may still be a long way away, as Australians still remain firm on rejecting a completely cashless society.

The research found nearly four in five small businesses reported a sudden shift to a cashless economy would impact their operations.