MasterCard testing if selfies could replace passwords

MasterCard is trialling new technology that would let customers take a selfie to buy online rather than entering a password.

As part of the trial, 500 MasterCard customers will be asked to take a picture of their face when paying using their smartphone. The photo is then transferred to 1s and 0s, transmitted over the internet, and then matched against an image held on file of the card holder.

MasterCard’s Ajay Bhalla told CNN Money that people have too many passwords. This can cause problems for both customers and businesses.

“We want to identify people for who they are, not what they remember,” he added. Bhalla believes that the younger generation will embrace this way of authorising payments. He said, “The new generation, which is into selfies ... I think they'll find it cool. They'll embrace it."

This payment method will be available via the MasterCard smartphone app. This app also gives customers the ability to pay using their fingerprint.