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Eerie moment tourist visiting China is able to pay for drink using just her PALM in unnerving vision of the future
Watch the freaky tech system that asks for incredibly personal data in order to work
THIS is the eerie moment a tourist visiting China was able to pay for her drink just using her palm in an unnerving glimpse into the future.
Chilling footage showed Marina Guaragna shopping at a grocery store before placing her hand on a contactless scanner as she would with a credit card.
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The TikTok travel influencer could not believe her eyes as she went on to pay with her hands at another machine, saying that "China's in the year 3050".
The shocked Brazilian wrote to her followers: "Here in China it doesn't matter if you forgot your card, cell phone or wallet at home.
"You simply pay for everything with the palm of your hand.
"Isn't it amazing?"
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The tool, which is only widely available in China, was developed by the company Tencent, the same company responsible for the WeChat messaging app.
Called Weixin Palm Payment, the unsettling tech is available in the southern part of the country.
An eerie machine uses infrared cameras to analyse the biometrics and veins in each person's hand.
Tourists daring to use the palm payment must register at one of the company's totems.
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Before getting your hand scanned, you'll be asked for a series of ultra-personal information which you may or may not know how and where it will be stored.
That includes your name, phone number, passport number, an active account on the WeChat Pay app and a linked credit or debit card.
China installs toilet TIMERS to broadcast how long subjects are in the loo amid sinister rise of ‘social credit’ system
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Technology in China has advanced rapidly, but it often raises concerns about privacy and government surveillance.
Beijing's Orwellian surveillance infrastructure aims to maintain social order and control, but it also significantly diminishes personal privacy and freedom.
The Chinese government employs a comprehensive and sophisticated surveillance network that includes facial recognition cameras, internet monitoring, and data collection systems.
This technology is pervasive in public spaces, transportation systems, and even within private companies, making it difficult for individuals to avoid being monitored.
Facial recognition technology is extensively used to track and identify individuals in real-time.
Cameras equipped with this technology are widespread, capturing images and comparing them to a vast database of citizens' photos.
This system can monitor people's movements and activities, contributing to a feeling of constant surveillance.
Internet activity is also closely monitored in China as the government employs the "Great Firewall," a combination of legislative actions and technologies, to regulate the internet domestically.
It blocks access to many foreign websites and services, and monitors domestic internet traffic to control information and suppress dissent.
Social media platforms and messaging apps are required to comply with government regulations, allowing authorities to track and store communications.
The Social Credit System is another tool that raises privacy concerns.
It scores citizens based on their behavior and compliance with social norms.
Activities such as traffic violations, online behavior, and financial transactions can affect an individual's score, impacting their access to services like loans, travel, and job opportunities.
This system incentivises compliance and discourages dissent, creating a sense of being constantly watched and judged.
It comes after China installed toilet timers to broadcast how long people are in the loo.
A viral video shared on various Chinese news and social media sites shows a set of timers installed above a row of toilet cubicles in a female washroom at the UNESCO World Heritage site.
Each stall has their own digital timer.
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When a stall is unoccupied, the pixelated LED screen displays the word “empty” in green.
If in use, it shows the number of minutes and seconds the door has been locked.
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How does biometric payment work?
BIOMETRIC payment systems use unique biological characteristics like fingerprints, facial recognition, or iris scans to authenticate and authorise transactions.
The process involves capturing and securely storing the user's biometric data, which is then used for verification during payments.
If the scanned data matches the stored data, the transaction is authorised and processed through standard channels.
Security measures include encryption, tokenisation, and liveness detection to prevent unauthorised access and ensure the biometric sample is from a live person.
These systems are commonly used in mobile payments, in-store transactions, and online purchases, offering convenience, speed, and enhanced security by eliminating the need for passwords or physical cards.
However, challenges include privacy concerns, potential errors in biometric matching, and accessibility issues for some users.
Despite these challenges, biometric payment systems provide a secure and efficient alternative to traditional payment methods.
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