On Monday the 16th of March it was announced that the trial in which customers could pay for their grocery shopping by finger print at Albert Heijn -The Netherlands' biggest food retail chain - will, at this point, not be continued. A spokesperson of the supermarket chain confirmed this upon being asked about the project. "We're currently considering what step to take next". She called the trial a success, but admitted that first issues as safety and fraud resistance require further research.
In total 580 people took part of the trial, which ran at a supermarket location in Breukelen for half a year. Participants have listed the fact that they weren't required to bring their bank card and bonus card as big advantages (not surprisingly J). Reading finger prints of elderly ladies has proven to be especially difficult. "Their finger tips were more worn, which affected the legibility." Albert Heijn sees a future in payment by finger print, but in a different mode than what has tested now. The supermarket is currently also running a mobile payment trial.
The discussion on biometric identification is interesting from the viewpoint of the development of a real-time economy. Although the firm tried to downplay the element of security, that's what in fact the debate is centered on. Body features are not replaceable, and in the case of the finger print can be quickly an accurately copied. Hackers showed this last summer copying the finger print of a German minister, who had suggested payment by finger print. Another point of criticism, the current device which identifies the finger print is designed recognize rather than to dismiss. This outset in design is a mistake, making it harder to eliminate fraud. To quell this discussion the supermartket tried to steer towards positive elements as ease of use. They also indicated that the customer, similar to a credit card, would be insured against fraud.
