QR Codes Are Out, Soon You'll Only Need to Show Your Face to Pay in China

While Sweden is trialling inserting microchips into its citizens as a new way to pay, China is opting for a less invasive method -- your face. In Shenzhen, a local subway operator is testing several advanced technologies powered by the 5G network, including facial recognition payments, according to a report by the South China Morning Post. At the Futian station, instead of presenting a ticket or scanning a QR bar code on their smartphones, commuters are now able to scan their faces on a tablet-sized screen mounted on the entrance gate and have the fare automatically deducted from their linked accounts. "To use facial ticketing in the future, passengers will also need preregistration of their facial information and link their payment methods to their accounts," said a staff member at the Futian station's demonstration area in Shenzhen. Passers-by at the demonstration area in Futian station will see their information, including facial photos captured by surveillance cameras, gender, age, and the length of stay in the area, displayed on a big screen.