Welcome to Tech Minute. I’m your host, Sam Parker. Today, we’re exploring Amazon One, Amazon’s palm-scanning payment system that’s rolling out at Whole Foods stores and across NYU’s campus. Instead of cash or cards, you hover your hand over a scanner and Amazon “captures the unique lines and ridges” of your palm—what they call “as unique as a fingerprint.” You register by linking your palm to a credit card and phone number, and after that you just wave to pay.

Amazon promises the data is “encrypted and stored securely.” But privacy experts warn that once biometric data exists, it could be used far beyond grocery checkout. Vox reports, “It’s possible this system could one day be used for surveillance.” Critics also worry about law enforcement access and the lack of clear regulations. Amazon says it won’t share your palm print without a legal demand, but questions remain: How long will this data be stored? Who else might request it?

As palm readers replace wallets, will we trade privacy for convenience? That’s the Tech Minute update—thanks for listening.
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