Mastercard and NEC Collaborate to Advance Facial Recognition Payment Technology in Asia Pacific

Mastercard is collaborating with NEC Corporation to expand the use of facial recognition technology for in-store transactions in the Asia Pacific region.

The Technological Alliance

The companies have signed a memorandum of understanding, paving the way for the integration of NEC’s facial recognition and liveness verification technology with Mastercard’s payment enablement and user experience.

This collaboration is a new development in Mastercard’s Biometric Checkout Program. Last year, the initiative was piloted in Brazil.

Aiming for Standardized Security and Privacy

The Biometric Checkout Program aims to provide an advanced technological framework for merchants, banks, and tech firms. Its goal is to establish minimum standards for security, biometric performance, data protection, and privacy requirements.

A Future of Seamless Transactions

Ajay Bhalla, president of cyber and intelligence solutions at Mastercard, emphasised the potential of biometric solutions in the evolving retail environment. Biometric solutions offer secure, quick, and seamless checkouts without the need to unlock a phone or input a PIN.

Bhalla further stated that the partnership with NEC would facilitate the introduction of innovative biometric payment methods to customers across the Asia Pacific region, positioning them at the forefront of safe and convenient checkout experiences.