Payment by selfie? Amazon files patent for new service


Soon, you may be able to pay for items in the blink of an eye – literally.

According to Re/code, Seattle-based Amazon has filed a patent application for pay-by-selfie technology that would allow customers to authenticate transactions by snapping a photo or video of themselves. Additionally, a computer or mobile device could "prompt the user to perform certain actions, motions or gestures, such as to smile, blink, or tilt his or her head." The idea is that facial recognition would make transactions more convenient and secure than a traditional password, which can be hacked and stolen.

This isn't the first time a company has floated using facial recognition software for authentication. Re/code reports that Alibaba and MasterCard are exploring similar technology.

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