Google is working on facial authentication in Android Pay

Google seems to be working on a new way of authentication in its payment service Android Pay. References to Visual ID were found in a new version of the application, which identifies the user through facial recognition.

That’s what 9To5Google noticed, which parsed the installer file from version 1.22 of Android Pay. In it, it noted references to Visual ID, although Google itself has not yet made anything public about this new functionality. According to the explanation in the application, Android Pay creates a ‘face template’ based on an uploaded photo. This is then used to determine the user’s identity based on facial recognition.

According to the description in the application, Visual ID should, among other things, make it easier to collect loyalty points in stores. The identity of the user is established with cameras that are hanging in the store, so that there are possible privacy concerns with the new function. With Visual ID, a photo of the user is shown to the system, after which the identity is established. The photo itself is then deleted, and the store itself is not given access to the used photo material.

When Visual ID should be released is not clear. The fact that references appear in Android Pay indicates that Google is seriously considering rolling out the function soon, but it is also possible that the introduction will be dropped.