Palm payments at grocery stores are set to become commonplace in the near future. Amazon has announced plans to roll out its One palm recognition technology across all Whole Foods Market stores in the United States by year’s end. Once registered online, customers can simply hover their palm over a reader to pay for purchases and access their Prime benefits, eliminating the need to carry a phone or wallet.
Currently, Amazon One is operating in over 200 stores across states including California, New York, and Texas. The proposed expansion will see its reach extend to more than 500 stores. In addition to Whole Foods, the technology is also accessible at select third-party locations such as the Colorado Rockies’ stadium for beer purchases or a Panera café for breakfast.
Praised for its unique benefits, the palm recognition system offers an edge over tap-to-pay and other contactless methods that still need some form of physical item, including Amazon’s own Just Walk Out technology. The system checks that those buying alcohol are of legal age, and the in-depth scans of the palm and veins create a unique vector “signature” that’s reportedly impossible to duplicate.
However, Amazon’s new payment technology is not without its detractors. Activists are urging music venues and similar establishments to reject Amazon One, citing privacy and human rights concerns. Even though Amazon assures secure cloud storage for palm signatures and robust anti-tampering measures, opponents worry about potential misuse of the data by governments to monitor protestors and vulnerable groups. There are also fears about hackers illicitly acquiring and misusing data.
Amazon is currently navigating legal challenges concerning its practices. The company is facing a potential class-action lawsuit, accusing it of violating New York City law by not adequately informing Go store shoppers about its collection of biometric data, including palms. Amazon argues that One users explicitly consent to data collection, but it’s uncertain whether this fulfills the requirements of the law.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) about Amazon One Expansion
Where is Amazon planning to expand its One palm recognition technology?
Amazon is planning to expand its One palm recognition technology to all Whole Foods Market stores across the United States by the end of the year.
What are the benefits of Amazon’s palm recognition system?
Amazon’s palm recognition system allows customers to pay for purchases and access their Prime benefits by simply hovering their palm over a reader. This eliminates the need for carrying a phone or wallet. Additionally, it assures that those buying alcohol are of legal age and creates a unique vector “signature” that is reportedly impossible to duplicate.
What are the criticisms of the Amazon One system?
The system has faced criticism over potential privacy and human rights concerns. Critics worry that governments could misuse the data to monitor protestors and marginalized groups. There are also fears that hackers could acquire and misuse the data.
Is Amazon facing any legal challenges related to Amazon One?
Yes, Amazon is currently facing a potential class-action lawsuit, which accuses the company of violating New York City law by not adequately informing Go store shoppers about its collection of biometric data, including palms.
Is Amazon One available in other locations apart from Whole Foods?
Yes, the technology is also accessible at select third-party locations such as the Colorado Rockies’ stadium and Panera cafes.
More about Amazon One Expansion
- Amazon’s One palm recognition technology
- Whole Foods Market
- Amazon’s Just Walk Out technology
- Amazon’s stance on privacy and data collection
- New York City biometric data laws
4 comments
whole foods plus high tech convenience. nice move Amazon! just hope they handle data responsibly.
So now they’re scanning palms huh? First it was our faces now our palms. What’s next? Guess privacy doesn’t mean much these days :/
I gotta say this is pretty cool tech. No more fumbling for wallet at checkout. But kinda scary too. What if someone gets my palm data?
Love the innovation but can’t ignore the privacy issues. are we just gonna give all our biometrics to big corporations? where’s the line?