Fiscal Nepal
First Business News Portal in English from Nepal
KATHMANDU: Chinese tech giant Tencent has officially launched a groundbreaking palm-recognition payment system through its widely used WeChat Pay (Weixin Pay), now live in Beijing’s metro stations and set to expand to retail outlets, campuses, and restaurants.
How It Works Users pre-register their biometric palm data using a scanner at designated stations. Once registered, they simply hover their hand over an infrared sensor that reads both palm prints and vein patterns. Transactions are then processed instantaneously via their linked WeChat account.
Public Reaction The technology has received widespread attention after being featured in everyday settings like grocery stores and subway lines. A viral Instagram video showed users paying with just a wave of their hand, sparking reactions ranging from awe (“Living in 2050”) to skepticism about privacy implications.
Many internet users praised the convenience; others voiced concern about biometric data collection and security.
Convenience Meets Controversy Proponents highlight newfound freedom—walking into a store or boarding transit without needing a phone, card, or cash. In some regions, palm payments even come with incentives like discounts.
Critics, however, warn that once compromised, biometric data like palm scans cannot be “replaced”—unlike a credit card. Tencent plans to widen rollout across China and potentially Southeast Asia, tapping into global demand for seamless, high-tech payment solutions.
As biometric payments gain popularity, China continues to push the boundaries of convenience. Still, the intersection of technology and privacy remains a critical concern. Let me know if you’d like a focused profile on how this compares to biometric systems in other countries!
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